II Corinthians 5:17
IF THEN ANY MAN IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE:
THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY;
BEHOLD, THEY ARE MADE NEW!
II COR. 5:17
Such a famous bible verse isn´t it?
one looks at it and automatically shuts off, with a "oh, I know all about it" type of thought...
Do we? do we really know all about it?
If so...why are we so down in the dumps?
Take a look at the definition of NEW that I just got from the dictionary:
1. Not old (since I am over 40 I like this one)
2. Never used or worn before
3. Unfamiliar
5. different from the former
6. recently arrived
7. rejuvenated
8. currently fashionable
9. New in the most recent form, period or
development.
Adverb: freshly, recently.
Now be honest, do you feel rejuvenated?
When you walk in a room you are so different that people have the same reaction to as a recently arrived person...somebody from a different country, somebody totally new?
Does your husband suddenly feel he is unfamiliar with your reactions?
Are your children suprised because you are "currently fashionable"?
different from the former...mmm
...interesting thought.
We put II Cor. in bookmarkers, stickers and the sort, why? do we just want to torture ourselves with the truth that we haven´t changed all that much? or do we hope that one day we will wake up to be like the butterfly printed next to the Bible text?
I have a friend that confessed that she had a poster of a butterfly with this verse. After a while she was so frustrated with the reality of such little change in her own heart that she tore it apart!!!
familiar with the story? It is true, that Bible verse is usually printed with a beautiful butterfly next to it...implying the word: methamorphosis.
So let´s look at the defenition the dictionary has:
Methamorphosis:
1. A transformation, as by magic.
2. A marked change in appearance, character,
condition or function.
3. A change in form and often habits during
development after the embryonic stage
cool, no?
I can just sit here for hours tasting these words.
A marked change in character....can you imagine that?
A change in habits
A transformation
IF ANY MAN IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE
Well last year, I made a stop. A dramatic stop, but a necessary stop.
I knew I had two options, continue running around, keeping busy and impressing everyone with how spiritual I was for the time spent in ministry, or I could stop and face God.
Because I had avoided facing God for 40 years I chose to face Him last year.
And it was a rough time.
Can you imagine how it feels for God to look at you straight in the eyes and call you a hypocrite?
ouch is not enough.
God himself, pushing this verse into my face and asking me..."Bea Gasca, are you sure you know what this is all about?"
Do we?
Can we just push it aside, implying that we know exactly what it is about?
I, for one, wasn´t able to do that.
So a long journey started, a journey seeking what God meant by that.
Want a slight idea? I didn´t copy the verses..sorry, just the thoughts. But each of the following is in the Scriptures...a description of a new heart:
A heart that can see God
A heart that God can see and smile
A heart that honors God
A heart worthy of God
A heart that says, "God in me is"
A true heart, in full assurance of faith
An undestanding heart
A gentle heart
A fiery heart
A lowly heart
A revived heart
A brave heart
A meek heart
A clean heart
A pure heart
An upright heart
A heart near God
A heart that loves God exceedingly
A faithful heart
A wise heart
A truthful heart
An open heart
A heart with a purpose
An obedient heart
An inclined heart to fulfill God´s statutes
A heart that fears God
Integrity of heart
a steadfast heart in God
A blameless heart
A heart full of God´s word
A perfect heart
A stirred heart
A healed heart
A mature heart
A fixed heart toward God
A prepared heart to seek God
An understanding heart to judge
A merciful heart
An uprighteous heart
A sound heart
A merry heart
A loyal heart to God
An undivided heart
A guided heart
A tender heart towards God
A circumcised heart
A God centered heart
An instructed heart
A tested and found right heart.
wow.
Can we really push II Cor. aside, by just buying a sticker with a butterfly and the verse printed on it?
yes, we can...I did it!...for the first 40 years of my christian life.
Do you want to continue on that way?
Not I.
I want a new heart, one like the one described in the scriptures...nothing less will do.
A TESTED AND FOUND RIGHT HEART
wow...
you can´t get that in the psychologist office...
only one way to get it.
Funny thing, it says so right there...for some strange reason, we never see it printed in the stickers... never mind, lets go to the verse:
IF THEN ANY MAN IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, THEY ARE MADE NEW!
BUT ALL THINGS ARE FROM GOD
For a few it will be a relief to find the source of a new heart: God.
But for most it will be a blumer, for few are the ones that really do want to draw that near to God.
Just in case you are desperate enough to want a new heart, let me tell you, it is true, it is possible... you draw near God, He begins an everlasting job in the deepest parts of your heart!
everlasting job in the deepest parts of your heart..wow...
I stopped...or God stopped me...no matter, I am glad.
Have I gotten such a heart?
No, but We are working on it...we really are.
(I must add that my friend recently wrote to tell me that she had found a butterfly at her office´s door, and that she is now happy to see all the change in her own heart)
THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY;
BEHOLD, THEY ARE MADE NEW!
II COR. 5:17
Such a famous bible verse isn´t it?
one looks at it and automatically shuts off, with a "oh, I know all about it" type of thought...
Do we? do we really know all about it?
If so...why are we so down in the dumps?
Take a look at the definition of NEW that I just got from the dictionary:
1. Not old (since I am over 40 I like this one)
2. Never used or worn before
3. Unfamiliar
5. different from the former
6. recently arrived
7. rejuvenated
8. currently fashionable
9. New in the most recent form, period or
development.
Adverb: freshly, recently.
Now be honest, do you feel rejuvenated?
When you walk in a room you are so different that people have the same reaction to as a recently arrived person...somebody from a different country, somebody totally new?
Does your husband suddenly feel he is unfamiliar with your reactions?
Are your children suprised because you are "currently fashionable"?
different from the former...mmm
...interesting thought.
We put II Cor. in bookmarkers, stickers and the sort, why? do we just want to torture ourselves with the truth that we haven´t changed all that much? or do we hope that one day we will wake up to be like the butterfly printed next to the Bible text?
I have a friend that confessed that she had a poster of a butterfly with this verse. After a while she was so frustrated with the reality of such little change in her own heart that she tore it apart!!!
familiar with the story? It is true, that Bible verse is usually printed with a beautiful butterfly next to it...implying the word: methamorphosis.
So let´s look at the defenition the dictionary has:
Methamorphosis:
1. A transformation, as by magic.
2. A marked change in appearance, character,
condition or function.
3. A change in form and often habits during
development after the embryonic stage
cool, no?
I can just sit here for hours tasting these words.
A marked change in character....can you imagine that?
A change in habits
A transformation
IF ANY MAN IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE
Well last year, I made a stop. A dramatic stop, but a necessary stop.
I knew I had two options, continue running around, keeping busy and impressing everyone with how spiritual I was for the time spent in ministry, or I could stop and face God.
Because I had avoided facing God for 40 years I chose to face Him last year.
And it was a rough time.
Can you imagine how it feels for God to look at you straight in the eyes and call you a hypocrite?
ouch is not enough.
God himself, pushing this verse into my face and asking me..."Bea Gasca, are you sure you know what this is all about?"
Do we?
Can we just push it aside, implying that we know exactly what it is about?
I, for one, wasn´t able to do that.
So a long journey started, a journey seeking what God meant by that.
Want a slight idea? I didn´t copy the verses..sorry, just the thoughts. But each of the following is in the Scriptures...a description of a new heart:
A heart that can see God
A heart that God can see and smile
A heart that honors God
A heart worthy of God
A heart that says, "God in me is"
A true heart, in full assurance of faith
An undestanding heart
A gentle heart
A fiery heart
A lowly heart
A revived heart
A brave heart
A meek heart
A clean heart
A pure heart
An upright heart
A heart near God
A heart that loves God exceedingly
A faithful heart
A wise heart
A truthful heart
An open heart
A heart with a purpose
An obedient heart
An inclined heart to fulfill God´s statutes
A heart that fears God
Integrity of heart
a steadfast heart in God
A blameless heart
A heart full of God´s word
A perfect heart
A stirred heart
A healed heart
A mature heart
A fixed heart toward God
A prepared heart to seek God
An understanding heart to judge
A merciful heart
An uprighteous heart
A sound heart
A merry heart
A loyal heart to God
An undivided heart
A guided heart
A tender heart towards God
A circumcised heart
A God centered heart
An instructed heart
A tested and found right heart.
wow.
Can we really push II Cor. aside, by just buying a sticker with a butterfly and the verse printed on it?
yes, we can...I did it!...for the first 40 years of my christian life.
Do you want to continue on that way?
Not I.
I want a new heart, one like the one described in the scriptures...nothing less will do.
A TESTED AND FOUND RIGHT HEART
wow...
you can´t get that in the psychologist office...
only one way to get it.
Funny thing, it says so right there...for some strange reason, we never see it printed in the stickers... never mind, lets go to the verse:
IF THEN ANY MAN IS IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: THE FORMER THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY; BEHOLD, THEY ARE MADE NEW!
BUT ALL THINGS ARE FROM GOD
For a few it will be a relief to find the source of a new heart: God.
But for most it will be a blumer, for few are the ones that really do want to draw that near to God.
Just in case you are desperate enough to want a new heart, let me tell you, it is true, it is possible... you draw near God, He begins an everlasting job in the deepest parts of your heart!
everlasting job in the deepest parts of your heart..wow...
I stopped...or God stopped me...no matter, I am glad.
Have I gotten such a heart?
No, but We are working on it...we really are.
(I must add that my friend recently wrote to tell me that she had found a butterfly at her office´s door, and that she is now happy to see all the change in her own heart)
posted by thisfool @ 12:22 PM
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