Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Paul said: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation." We often think that this verse is only for the non-believers, which is not true. First of all, the verse says "if anyone", which means as long as you are willing, whether you are a Christian or not, you can be a new creation in Christ. Secondly, "if anyone is in Christ", Paul used the present tense, no matter who you are, as long as you are willing wish, today, at this present moment, you can be a new creation in Christ. Thirdly, the new creation is not something that one can become by sheer determination. In fact, the spiritual life needs to be renewed daily. Being a new creation is not a one-time experience, but a daily experience. No matter how long you have been a Christian, as long as you are willing, you can experience the renewal of God each day and be a new creation.

Why do we need to be renewed each day? The important thing to remember is that spiritual warfare is going on. Although we have experienced new birth when we confessed our faith in God, and we may be growing steadily, there may be many different aspects of our life where we have not completely surrendered to the Lord. For example, our thoughts, emotions, habits, the powers of darkness, bondages and relationships that have brought bitterness and hatred, all need to be renewed each day. This is why we need to come to Christ each day.

When Paul said "If anyone is in Christ", he is referring to the present and being in Christ at this present moment, a person becomes a new creation. This is such a precious promise. The old has gone and the new has come. The only condition is that you need to let go of the past and not hold on to it tightly. Do not bear grudges in your heart, but allow God to renew you. Not only so, you must believe that God will open a door for you in your present situation because He is a God who does new things. He wants to make a way for you in the wilderness, open up rivers in the desert, so that your environment can be renewed!

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we praise you because you are the God who does new things. I pray in the name of Jesus that you will break any bondage in my brothers and sisters lives so that they will no longer be subject to the powers of darkness and things of the past. May you do something new in their lives. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!