Marie’s daily verse: John 3:16: 

For God so loved the world He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. 

DAILY DEVOTION, October 17, 2023

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come”(2 Corinthians 5:17).

Paul defines a Christian as a person who is “in Christ?” How do we achieve that goal? The simple answer is “by faith.” John writes, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15). When we confess our faith in Jesus, God abides in us. We are “in Christ.” How do I know if my confession of faith is genuine? There are hypocrites in the church, people who give lip service to Jesus but do not truly trust Him. Paul writes that those whose faith is genuine, without hypocrisy, become new creatures. Our old way of living fades away. A new way of living as disciples of Jesus emerges. That does not mean we become perfect. It does not mean we live a life free from sin. I believe it means that our life heads in a new direction. Those who are in Christ sincerely want to please Him. When they realize they have sinned, they quickly confess and repent. The old life of self-centeredness and selfishness has passed away. Yes, at times, we may struggle with faithfulness. Our old selfish ways emerge at times. But the presence of the indwelling Christ begins to move us in new directions. We must ask this: am I aware that my life has changed dramatically since becoming a Christian? Do I sincerely desire to please the Lord? If you can answer “yes” to those questions, it is a sign that you have become a new creature in Christ.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that you enter into a relationship with us. You do not redeem us and then leave us to our own devices. You abide with us and in us. Thank You for the new life You bring to us. Forgive us when we close our ears to You and walk in our old ways. May our hearts ever be open to Your guidance. In Jesus’ name, Amen