And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:22-23 (ESV)
Series Focus: “Through His Eyes”
Have you ever had the opportunity to get new furniture? Not necessarily brand new…but even just “new-to-you.” The old may be donated, passed along, or set at the curb for pick-up. The space is cleaned, prepared, and perhaps painted. Then, the new is moved in and placed in the room for future use and enjoyment. Aahhh…
Aren’t new spaces refreshing?! Sometimes, the colors change, the placement of furniture is different, and the use of the room morphs as the updates occur. New life springs forth within your home as you fill the room with its new décor.
Do you realize we become new in and through Jesus when we receive Him as our Savior? Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV):
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
It’s out with the old and in with the new the moment we call upon Him! When we receive salvation through Jesus, we not only are made new, but God fills us with His Spirit. In Romans 8:10-11 (ESV), Paul wrote:
But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
The Spirit of God dwells within us. He fills us with His presence! As we believe upon Jesus, we become the temple—the sanctuary—the dwelling place—of the Most High God. Our identity becomes new in Christ. No longer are we dead in sin and filled with unrighteousness. That “furniture” has been removed, our insides have been cleaned and repainted, and the new—the righteousness of God—is moved in.
God doesn’t see us as old, rickety, worn-out, and unusable. He has made us new and has chosen us to be His dwelling place. He fills each believer with His Spirit—His peace, His joy, His presence. Looking upon us through the precious blood of His Son, our Savior, God sees us clean, fresh, filled, and ready for His use.
Do you see yourself as God sees you—as a dwelling place for Him? That, my sister, is exactly who you are through your faith in Jesus. If you’re struggling with this truth, renew your mind with the Word of God, and allow Him to do some updating and upgrading with you! You are filled by the Spirit of God!
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: John 3:1-15; Romans 8:10-11; 1 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 1:22-23; Philippians 1:9-11
