Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Devotion: This week, we are looking at the topic of temptation. Temptation is anything that promises satisfaction at the cost of your obedience to God. We have all been tempted before and will be tempted again. We are going to look at stories from Scripture about temptation, Bible verses that will help us when the urge is too strong and find encouragement for when we screw up.
But today, I wanted to start with the beautiful reminder from 2 Corinthians 5:17: When you know Jesus as your Savior, you are a new creation. Regardless of what you have done in the past or what you will struggle with in the future, you are a new creation in Christ. You can leave your old self behind and step fully into your new identity in Jesus. This doesn’t mean that you won’t still struggle with sin and temptation in your life. But it does mean that those sins do not define you. You are forgiven and redeemed.
As we dive into this topic, I think that knowing your identity is an important place to start. If we define ourselves by our shortcomings, sins, and temptations, we aren’t embracing the reality that is ours to have. We are made new. No number of past mistakes, current temptations, or future questions will change that.
Christ alone defines our identity. We can place our trust in Him and know that we are a new creation.
Reflect:
- Do you ever find yourself basing your identity off your past mistakes?
- If you instead viewed your identity as a new creation in Christ, how would that impact you?
