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Delighting in My Identity

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Good morning, brothers. We have a new week of Freedom Fighter blogs – three for the last three days of 2014 and two to welcome in the new year.

This morning I wanted to remind us that as we bring the old year to a close and the welcome in the new, that because of Jesus, we have a new identity.

For some of you, your version of ending the new year was to do so with lots of drinking and drugging. On New Year’s Eve we will gather with our guests and the Colony men to welcome in the new year and many of the men will share with us that this is the first New Year’s in many years that they will be alcohol and drug free. They will actually be sober.

Sadly, there will be Christians this New Year’s that believe that their “freedom in Christ” will allow them to drink freely, and for some, the focal point of welcoming in the new year will be on all their alcohol. Some will drink above the legal limit, and their “freedom” will put other’s at risk. Somehow the roles have reversed – but that’s a topic for next year.

Dr. Paul David Tripp in his new daily devotional, New Morning Mercies – A Daily Gospel Devotional, says that we don’t really celebrate our new identity enough:

By grace, we are the temple of the Most High God. By grace, he lives in us. By grace, his power is at our disposal. By grace, he fights on our behalf even if we don’t have the sense to do so. By grace , he works within us to complete the labor of grace that he has begun. By grace, he animates us to desire and do what is right. By grace, he exposes us and convicts us. We are able to choose and do what is right only because he lives in us and gives us the power to do so by his grace. He hasn’t just forgiven us, he’s taken up residence in us, and in that there is real hope.

Tripp, Paul David (2014-10-31). New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional (Kindle Locations 8490-8494). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

I trust that today you will take some time to thank the Lord for your new identity. Praise Him for the amazing way He has made you a new creation in Christ. Have a great day! – Dr. Bill Welte is President/CEO of America’s Keswick

Daily Bible Reading: Revelation 6-11

Think About This: Why give way to dear when, in Christ, it is impossible for you to ever be alone because you are now the temple in which God dwells?

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9