But I’ve Changed

Best Santa story of 2022. Ole’ Saint Nick made a stop at a private preschool Christmas party. Children lined up to tell Kris Kringle their Christmas wishes. As one little 4-year-old hopped into Santa’s lap, Santa looked at him, called his name, and said, “Oh, I k-n-o-w about you.” Fright lit the boy’s eyes but then calm as a river he replied, “But I’ve changed.”    

Quick witted comeback or an attempt to manipulate the man in the red suit? We won’t know but isn’t it exactly what we all want to be able to say when confronted with the reality of who we are in many areas of life? “I know I’ve used people, but I’ve changed.” “I know I’ve made poor choices, but I’ve changed.” “I know I have self-destructive habits, but I’ve changed.”  

Some of us can say those for real. If you are like me in some areas, you wish you could say it for real. The truth of the matter is that we are all broken people in need of God’s love. Try as we might, real change happens by a miracle of God’s regenerating grace within us. “I’m gonna change on my own even if it kills me.” Guess what? Human effort alone might actually get you there! Without Spirit-given assistance, we are simply arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. 

Paul puts us in the lifeboat of God’s grace. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Transformative change often begins with a daily focus on God’s work in us that births our work in him. Notice his work is a done deal. “… if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come…”  No process here. Your identity as a child of God is sure. “In Christ” is a stupendous reality to daily live in the good of.  

You are not the sum of your past failures. The new you in Christ is forgiven. It’s no longer “It’s just like me to …” You’re a new creation in Christ. “The old has gone…” You are not putty in the hands of sinful flesh. Paul’s “Therefore” reminds us that your sinful nature was nailed to the cross with Christ so you will say “no” to sin and “yes” to God’s will. Christ’s love compels you. And yes, when we fail, we find again forgiveness in Christ and forge forward more determined than ever as a “new creation!” Friend, real change begins in his grace lifeboat.  

But then, for heaven’s sake, row! ROW YOUR BOAT. No one paddles for deep change. Set your new mind to do what needs to get done for change and do it. Paul himself, fully aware of grace said, “No, I worked harder than all of them…” (1 Cor 15:10). Choose to take your oars and put your back into change every day. Stem to stern. After all, you’re a new sculler in the real love boat. So, row. 

Rowing with you for Christ-like change in the New Year!

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