Isaiah 64:6, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..." 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

Think

Have you ever thought about how amazing it is that a creepy, crawly caterpillar goes into a cocoon and comes out a beautiful, brightly colored butterfly? The process is called metamorphosis and it is a serious change. Once metamorphosis happens, the butterfly can never again be a caterpillar. The old caterpillar is gone, the new butterfly has come. This is a picture of what happens when we put our faith in Jesus Christ – a metamorphosis. Our old self, that was not able to please God even with our best efforts or "righteous acts," is transformed. We become a "new creation" – a child adopted, accepted, and loved by God. If you have accepted Christ, do you believe you are a new creation in Christ? Have you embraced that change? If you look at the mistakes in your life and struggle to believe you have changed, that is normal. But, no matter how many times a butterfly lands on the ground instead of flying, it is no longer a caterpillar. And, no matter how many times you make a mistake after accepting Christ, you are not the old you. You have been created for so much more!

Act

If you know Christ personally, ask God to reveal to you areas that you may not be embracing in the new life He has given you. It could be that you are holding on to an "old" thought process, an "old" behavior, or an "old" dependency. Whatever God shows you, ask Him to help you and look for opportunities today to say "no" to the old and "yes" to new as you reflect the change God has already made in you.

Pray

God, thank You for the change that is possible in me through Jesus Christ. Even when I don't feel changed, I choose to believe that I am a new creation in You. Please help me live like a new creation in the way I think and act today. Amen.