new + reconciled

 

Isn't this a great time of year? We come together with our families to celebrate the one who came to save us, and we look forward to new beginnings, new blessings, and new trials. As I reflect on this, I see not just the birth of a Savior, but my own reconciliation as one who has been saved. Each day the profundity of this reality becomes more clear (though I can never fully comprehend it), and with this clarity comes a softened heart, one that desires to make Him Lord in every area of my life. Not in most areas, not in some areas, not in the areas where it's comfortable--in everything. And because I have hope, because I have been united with the one who saves, I feel compelled, convicted, and called to share this hope, this saving grace and this transformative journey. I have journeyed here, and yet I have so far to go. May He be glorified.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

xoxo.