HE MADE YOU NEW! by Gary Wilkerson
Have you been set free? You probably think, “Of course! I’ve been washed, redeemed, made holy by Jesus, and I live for Him. ”
Now here’s a follow-up question: Does your everyday life reflect the glorious freedom you have just described? Would your friends, your spouse, your children say you’ve been set free? Or are you like multitudes of Christians who feel they are on a spiritual seesaw? Is your walk with Christ continually up and down, seemingly spiritual one moment and carnal the next?
We accept by faith the great truths about Jesus’ work for us—salvation, redemption, sanctification, deliverance. Yet for many of us, these are “spiritual truths” that exist in another world. We sing and rejoice at church each week over what Jesus has done for us—but is His gift of freedom a reality in our daily lives?
At times we all struggle to remain pure in thoughts and actions. Maybe this week you said something unkind to your spouse and you have been stewing, “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I be a blessing in my marriage?”
Whenever we fail in our walk with God, we wonder, “Has God really set me free?” Perhaps at times you even question your salvation. Friend, that isn’t freedom. So what does it mean to really be set free in Christ? The first evidence of this comes from Jesus, who says, “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? . . . Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:27, 33, ESV).
Christ offers the same words to all of us who fret about our spiritual lives: Do not be anxious! It does not matter how broken down you feel about your walk with Him. He declares, “You are a new creation” (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). The moment you chose to follow Jesus, He made you new—and that never changes. Even when you think you have strayed too far, Jesus says the opposite: “Don’t be anxious. I have provided everything for you to have fellowship with Me.”
Now here’s a follow-up question: Does your everyday life reflect the glorious freedom you have just described? Would your friends, your spouse, your children say you’ve been set free? Or are you like multitudes of Christians who feel they are on a spiritual seesaw? Is your walk with Christ continually up and down, seemingly spiritual one moment and carnal the next?
We accept by faith the great truths about Jesus’ work for us—salvation, redemption, sanctification, deliverance. Yet for many of us, these are “spiritual truths” that exist in another world. We sing and rejoice at church each week over what Jesus has done for us—but is His gift of freedom a reality in our daily lives?
At times we all struggle to remain pure in thoughts and actions. Maybe this week you said something unkind to your spouse and you have been stewing, “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I be a blessing in my marriage?”
Whenever we fail in our walk with God, we wonder, “Has God really set me free?” Perhaps at times you even question your salvation. Friend, that isn’t freedom. So what does it mean to really be set free in Christ? The first evidence of this comes from Jesus, who says, “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? . . . Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:27, 33, ESV).
Christ offers the same words to all of us who fret about our spiritual lives: Do not be anxious! It does not matter how broken down you feel about your walk with Him. He declares, “You are a new creation” (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). The moment you chose to follow Jesus, He made you new—and that never changes. Even when you think you have strayed too far, Jesus says the opposite: “Don’t be anxious. I have provided everything for you to have fellowship with Me.”