2 Corinthians 5:17

Peeling Off the Layers

January 3, 2019 by Ellen 2 Comments

She used to be puny. Her branches were so thin and weak, they could hardly hold the weight of her flowers. She was pruned wrong in her younger years. Her sprouts were lopped off, all in one chunk. Here in the south, we call it crepe murder.

Finally, after years of tender loving care, I saw she was having a growth spurt. Her branches were thick and heavy. She was standing taller. And she was shedding the rough layer of bark, to reveal a smooth, graceful trunk.

The improper pruning had stopped, allowing her branches to grow, thrive and produce beautiful flowers. An occasional prune here and there provided thinning of the weaker branches, so her main branches could grow stronger and support the fruit she would bear.

Her rough bark peeled off like the outer layer of an onion, to reveal a side of her I had not yet seen. Strong, smooth, graceful. Occasionally a rough patch, but that showed her spunk.

She reminds me a little of myself, this young/old crepe myrtle growing in my yard. The old is peeled away. The new is strong and graceful. Oh, I’m still a little rough around the edges at times. And I know there will be more pruning to come, when it’s time for new growth. When it’s time to get rid of that which is not flourishing, sapping my energy, and stunting my fruitfulness.

Funny thing: She reminds me of Jesus, too. What He has done for us. Because of Him, we are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). He peels off layer after layer of our old selves, replacing them with more of Him. But there’s a slower, deeper change that comes with growing in Him and walking with Him. Sometimes this change is imperceptible to the naked eye, because the change is in our hearts.

But what happens in our hearts eventually spills over into everyday life and relationships. Tempers are lost, not in the heat of passion but put aside as the fruit of His Spirit grows in us. Our rough edges, all those old thought patterns and behaviors, are peeled back, revealing a smoothness. We are becoming stronger and more graceful. Like Him. Because of Him. Because of His work in us. It’s a process, one that won’t be complete this side of heaven.

The question is: Will we allow ourselves to be pruned when we need to grow? Will we get rid of old habits and thought patterns, putting off our old selves, putting on new selves that are created in God’s image?

Will we allow Christ to peel back our rough layers revealing His likeness in us?

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But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day. Proverbs 4:18 (NASB)

Yes, it’s a process. Like watching the sun rise each new day. We will shine brighter and brighter when we allow the Son to shine in us.

Father, You are the potter, we are Your clay. Mold us and make us into Your image. Peel off the old layers of pride, greed, anger and replace them with Your love. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Grace be with you,

Unmasked: Our Identity in Christ…New

October 6, 2016 by Ellen 14 Comments

Somewhere along the line, I didn’t get the memo about my new self.

Take my fears, for instance. I was a fearful child, and grew into a fearful adult. I was scared of people, heights, the unknown, public speaking, the weather, flying – you name it! If I was scared of it, I didn’t want any part of it! I figured I would be fearful my whole life, because that’s just the way I am, right? You, too?

But know this: If there is part of your life that you loathe; part that you want to change but don’t think it’s possible; part of you that says “I can’t change, that’s just the way I am” – listen to the truth of God’s Word.

In Christ, you are NEW!

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

Oh, yes, I belong to Christ. I accepted God’s free gift of salvation when I was eleven. Jesus Christ is my Savior. But I never quiet got that whole “new self, old self” thing.

The word for “new” used in this passage is the Greek word kainos which means “original and not of a kind seen before.”

Not ever seen? New, unknown territory? New thoughts, new actions, new responses to old fears and insecurities. Cold sweat breaks out on my forehead; my hands become damp and clammy. Knots tighten in my shoulders at the thought of foraging ahead into the unknown. Have you ever felt like this?

When I finally grasped the significance of my “newness” (I can be a slow learner), I realized that I no longer have to be a slave to my old fears and habits. I am NOT the person I used to be. I am new in Jesus Christ.

But…I don’t want to let the old me go. She is comfortable and safe; like a warm, soft blanket in the winter.

She is all I’ve ever known.

I move forward anyway. In the same way that birds molt their feathers, I began to take tiny steps of faith. Here’s the cool thing about birds molting: it’s a slow, gradual process, that occurs in many phases. Birds rarely shed all their feathers at any one time; they must keep enough feathers to regulate their body temperature. Putting off my old self has been a gradual process.

Would I recommend this process to you? No! Jump out of the nest and soar in your new identity! Walk in God confidence. How? By knowing this:

Jesus has the power of God, by which he has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus called us by his glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 NCV

In Christ, we have everything we need. In Christ, we can do all things (Philippians 4:13).

In Christ.

In Him we can chose:
Courage, not fear
Perseverance, not discouragement
Peace, not worry
Purity over lusts of the flesh
Humility instead of pride
Patience instead of anger
Hope over despair

I’m learning to like my “new” self. She’s growing on me. But there are still times she makes me want to run and hide.

What part of your old self are you hanging on to? What do you need to throw off in order to soar in newness?

Grace be with you,