Oh Lord, My God, You’ve made me new;
My chains are gone! I am forgiven and free,
No longer will I live for me!
Focus of the Month: “A Beautiful Reflection”
How often do you look in the mirror? This isn’t a trick question, nor am I judging you. Most of us do this at least once a day – but probably more. We wash our face, brush our teeth, possibly apply make-up or fix our hair. For all apparent purposes a mirror is a very useful tool. It gives us a chance to see what our outward appearance looks like before we are in front of others.
Yet, our outward display doesn’t tell our whole story. Have you thought about your inward reflection? The image that can’t be seen in a mirror, but shines out to others? Honestly, why does our reflection even matter? Am I making too much of this? Perhaps. But I believe there is a very real reason to consider and care what others see when they encounter me.
You see, I am a Christ follower. I am a woman who loves and seeks the Lord. Deciding to trust in Jesus as my Lord and Savior, took my life in a new direction. A direction that would resemble more of Him and less of me…and in time my hope is to be a beautiful reflection of HIM to those around me.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:17,
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”
Over the past couple of months we’ve discovered many truths about what following Jesus looks like. Not because of OUR opinion but because of what Jesus taught through His beautiful Sermon on the Mount (rediscover these truths by reviewing the messages from June-August 2018). Because I have chosen to trust in Jesus as my Savior, my reflection, both inward and outward must certainly become new and definitely matter.
In the coming weeks, we will study with great anticipation what living out “becoming a new creation” looks like – what it means to abandon our old behaviors, destroy our sinful patterns and live in the freedom that Christ offers us. By visiting Jesus in scripture, diving in and exploring Truth – even when it is hard. We will come out transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ. We become new — one day, one step at a time.
God declares we are valuable to Him! We are valued and loved even before we accept Jesus into our lives. Each and every one of us is created in the image of God. We are meant to be a beautiful reflection of HIM. For this, I rejoice! And with all that I have, I pray that He strengthens me as He makes me New!
Holding fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Matthew 5-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 3:10; Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16; Lamentations 3:22-23; Genesis 1:27
