Just like the children’s song my son, Pie, sang when he was in elementary school, He’s Still Working on Me, in the musical, Down By the Creek Bank, God made it very evident to me recently that He still has lots of work to do on my attitude.

Two names from my past surfaced, courtesy of the internet, and less than gracious thoughts flashed through my mind regarding each of these women. “If people only knew them like I know them. Hurumph! Why, I’ve known them for decades.”

Fortunately, God did not allow me to travel down that path  too long before He jerked me to my senses.

Oh? And what would they say about the person you were when they knew you decades ago? He seemed to ask.

Well, that’s not who I am now. I’ve changed. I’ve grown. I’ve matured. I stammered back.

Don’t you think it’s possible these two have changed, grown, and matured? After all, you haven’t had any contact with them for a long time. You really do not know who they are.

Gulp.

It was hard for the apostle Paul to prove to the other apostles he had changed. He was a new creation. He was no longer out to destroy Christians.

Like Paul, I’m grateful to be a new creation in Christ. Saved by Jesus’ precious shed blood on the cross of Calvary. I’m grateful God does not treat me as my sins deserve. I’m grateful I am God’s beloved. So, why do I forget others are also new creations in Christ, bought with the same precious blood and beloved just as much as me?

Jesus continues to give each of us second chances. Repeatedly. Shouldn’t we give others the benefit of the doubt and realize the past is past and embrace the transformation for the better in others? I know I sure better.

Anyone you need to look at through new eyes and accept as a new creation?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Leave a comment below. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.

2 Corinthians 5:16-17  The Message

I wish you well.

Sandy

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