Abundant LifeSample

New Creation

Most of us love new things, and I love the idea of newness in general. I love that as believers, we get to live new lives. Before truly coming to know Jesus, I had no idea what it meant to ‘put on your new nature’ or ‘become a new creation.’ That concept may be confusing to you, too. It simply means that, once you accept Jesus as your Savior, your life should look completely different from what it did before you began to follow Him. It means you’ll be grateful for God’s forgiveness, and you’ll be quicker to repent of sin going forward. Your desires and passions will change. In either an instant, or over a period of time, you’ll realize you’re not the same person you used to be. In fact, you’ll start looking more and more like Jesus and less and less like the world around you.

I’ve discovered it’s not always easy to be a new creation. We’re called to be lights in a dark world, which sounds like a great idea on paper, but can be hard to live out. We all have tendencies to go back to our old, sinful (and comfortable) ways. Galatians 5:24 NIV says, ‘Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.’ For me, some days are harder than others when it comes to killing my natural, sinful desires. If you’re wondering what these ‘passions and desires’ are, the Bible lists them: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. It’s easy to revert to sinful attitudes and actions, but we can walk away from them if we remind ourselves daily that through the work of Jesus in our lives, we are new creations.

Between reps today, give thanks that you’re not just building a new physical you, but also a new spiritual you.

First the Word – now the Workout:

4 rounds for time, 24 single arm overhead squat (12/arm)

24 sit ups