Make Over – Made New

At one point or another you have probably seen at least one episode of a “Make Over” show on television.

You know the ones – the DIY shows where they completely remodel a home. Some of them make over the person; new haircut, makeup, weight loss and wardrobe. There have been times when I’ve thought it would be nice to have someone create a hairstyle just for me and/or help me find a wardrobe that minimizes the faults and accentuates the strengths.

That my friends is a makeover.

But what about making something new? A new home or a new car, one that no one else has lived in or driven. What’s even more special is when it’s not only new, but custom. The floorplan, cabinetry, countertops, windows, room size, and the view have all been designed specifically for you. No room for complaint – it’s new.

Our Christian lives are like that, made new!

 Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.” II Corinthians 5:17 CEV

Everything is new.

“Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. 32  Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ. Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children.  Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.” Ephesians 4:31-5:2 CEV

We are to have the same character as our heavenly Father. We are new in Him. He has placed His nature in us. For a long time, I didn’t see myself as new in Christ; at best, I saw myself as remodeled and truth be told, I saw the remodel as incomplete. Still struggling and dealing with old issues that would never really be fixed this side of heaven.

“Christ died, and we have been joined with him by dying too. So we will also be joined with him by rising from death as he did. We know that our old life was put to death on the cross with Christ. This happened so that our sinful selves would have no power over us. Then we would not be slaves to sin. Anyone who has died is made free from sin’s control.

If we died with Christ, we know that we will also live with him. Christ was raised from death. And we know that he cannot die again. Death has no power over him now. 10 Yes, when Christ died, he died to defeat the power of sin one time—enough for all time. He now has a new life, and his new life is with God. 11 In the same way, you should see yourselves as being dead to the power of sin and alive for God through Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:5-11 ERV

Dead to sin and alive for God!

Made new!

Dead to the power of sin – dead to temper, lying, a critical spirit, gossip, self-pity. Dead.

 But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.” Romans 3:24 CEV

A makeover is something we try to do, made new is something only God can do. I like His way better!

It Is Good!

One of the things I enjoy about being in the mountains is talking with people who are enjoying God’s creation.

Night before last we had another amazing sunset! Last night, we talked with several people who were remarking on its beauty. “Did you see that sunset, it was one of the most beautiful I’ve seen?” And they would go on from there. One man we met is a professional photographer and he had been out one night photographing the Milky Way; he said he loves being up here where there is no artificial light to spoil the night sky.

I’m sure, as we were looking at the spectacular sunset God was too. I can just hear him saying, “Now that’s a good one. I hope they enjoy it.”

 God said, “I command lights to appear in the sky and to separate day from night and to show the time for seasons, special days, and years. 15 I command them to shine on the earth.” And that’s what happened. 16 God made two powerful lights, the brighter one to rule the day and the other to rule the night. He also made the stars. 17 Then God put these lights in the sky to shine on the earth, 18 to rule day and night, and to separate light from darkness. God looked at what he had done, and it was good. 19 Evening came and then morning—that was the fourth day.” Genesis 1:14-18 CEV

God looked at what he had done, and it was good! Oh my, yes.

Good…I can find so many more adjectives in describing the sunset than good but then I’m not God. That was the phrase that struck me this morning, as I began to write. He called it good. Just good.

But when He talks about us He is much more eloquent.

“But you are God’s chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done. The Scriptures say, 10 “Once you were nobody. Now are God’s people. At one time no one had pity on you. Now God has treated you with kindness.” I Peter 2:9-12 CEV

Special…chosen…royal…holy. A beautiful sunset is good but we are special, chosen, royal and holy. WOW! To know that God thinks about me in those terms is overwhelming. When I look into a mirror I tend to see my flaws and imperfections but that’s not what God sees. He sees me as valuable and precious.

“Then the Lord All-Powerful said: You people are precious to me, and when I come to bring justice, I will protect you, just as parents protect an obedient child.” Malachi 3:17 CEV

Through the years I have learned that what God says about me holds greater value than what others say about me or even, what I say about myself. His opinion is the one that matters and to Him, I am precious!

The beautiful sunset is good but I am precious and so are you!