2 Corinthians 5:17-19 English Standard Version (ESV):
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”
I have a long history of making and breaking promises to myself to make wise decisions when it comes to my life, my health. I will choose healthy eating, exercise, and commit to going to bed earlier. As hard as it is to follow through, about four days in, I feel better. Eventually these choices fall away in part or in full (the early to bed thing is gone in a blink). I know the benefits and still I choose the wrong path, wrong food, wrong behavior. If I focus on my behavior I will never change. In the areas of my life where I have trusted HIM to lead, HE moves exceedingly beyond all I expect. The result — I change without trying. In HIS timing, HE shows me HIS work. After having surgery recently, I was away from church for about seven weeks. I missed the entire Sunday morning experience. Upon my return, a member that I met just before I came to CCF twelve years ago saw me in the sanctuary. He said, “I know you don’t like hugs but I’m going to hug you anyway. Welcome back! We missed you.”
Here’s the change, how HE has made me new — hugs are fine, good even. I had been intolerant to touch for as long as I can remember. The fear and frantic feeling that used to overwhelm me upon even slight contact, are gone. I sat in the sanctuary remembering all the times I remained alert to avoid contact, the times I jumped out of my skin when someone touched me unexpectedly, the energy I put into looking normal. Even as I remember who I was and celebrate how HE is changing me, I look forward to what HE will do in and through me tomorrow. HIS power is made perfect in my weakness.
