Mon., 9/16/13 Devotion (2 Cor. 5:17)

Today's encouragement comes from the familiar and lovely words of 2 Corinthians 5:17, which say this:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Newness is a good thing. For the believing churchman, all past sins are forgiven--covered by the blood of Jesus; and the present and the future is brighter (than the past). People outside of Jesus also want "newness," and seek it all the time. But they remain in their "ancient" sins: the sin they shared in Adam; and the sins they have committed along the paths of their lives.

Christians may need to suffer more than most people; but we also have a surpassing glory that more than compensates for it: and that is our blessed life in Jesus.  Let us love Him today; and enjoy Him.

[Puritan quote of the day: "Happiness and rest are what all men pur-sue. But the things of the world, wherein most men seek it, can never afford it. They are laboring and spending themselves in vain." --Jona-than Edwards, in his sermon entitled, "The Peace which Christ
Gives . . . "]