Daily Devotion

NEW IDENTITY

DEVOTIONS FOR BUSY DISCIPLES
 
NEW IDENTITY!
 
Christ came to radically change the world. His presence in the earth not only divided time, but was also meant to transform human identity.
 
The apostle Paul refers to this transformation in his letter to the Ephesians. He makes it clear that “you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (2:13).
 
Paul was talking to Gentiles, who, by heritage, were considered far from God. But God, in His love for the whole world (John 3:16), opened the doorway of hope and salvation to these “foreigners and aliens” (v.19a). Now, through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross they were considered “fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household” (v.19b). What a radical identity shift!
 
Christ’s death on the cross was a radical action…with remarkable results. Paul refers to all who are “in Christ” as a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We go from a status as “sinners” to “saints” tied to Christ’s blood shed for us.
 
We are also “Gentiles.” We are a part of the non-Jewish world population whom God has chosen to be in His family of believers. In Christ we have the “good news” of salvation. Our new identity in Christ makes the difference for all eternity!
 
A PAUSE FOR PRAYER—
 
            Thank You, loving God, for sending Your Son to do the necessary
            work to change our lives and our identity forever. Amen