INNOCENCE

“I’m not who I once was. I’m a new person.”
Those simple words from Geoff, spoken to kids at a school assembly,

describe the change God made in his life. Once addicted to heroin, Geoff judged himself by his sins and mistakes. But now he sees himself as a child of God.

The Bible encourages us with this promise: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!” (2 CORINTHIANS 5:17). No matter who we’ve been or what we’ve done in our past, when we trust Jesus for our salvation and receive the forgiveness offered through His cross, we become someone new. Once the guilt of our sins separated us from God, but He has now “reconciled us to Himself through Christ”, “not counting” our sins against us (VV.18-19). We are His dearly loved children (1 JOHN 3:1-2), washed clean and made new in the likeness of His Son.

Jesus makes us brand new. The innocence we have lost through our selfish choices is found again in Him. He frees us from sin and its power, and a new life opens wide before us—where we don’t have to live for our misguided, damaging instincts and desires, but “for him who died for [us] and was raised again” (2 CORINTHIANS 5:15). This transforming love means we now live with a new identity and purpose—we show others who Jesus is, so they too can be made brand new!

What I’m thankful for . . .

Father, thank You for sending Your Son to save me so that I could be Your child. Please send me to someone who needs to come home to You today!