New Created Neighbours

Scripture

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 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! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Observation

This is one of the great passages of scripture; it is quoted often from the platform of every church in the world around the world. As I read it afresh I realised that Paul was using this passage not about how we should see ourselves, but rather how we should see others. We love to see that we are new creations, the old gone and new to come. This truth makes us feel great and refreshed. Paul here though says “from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view” he then says that the view he would have of others is that they are a new creation... How churches would change, how much more we would love each other if we could truly believe that others are new creations in Christ.

Application

Who do you need to change your view of and see as a new creation?

What changes when you see others in this way?

Prayer

Lord God of all heaven and earth, help me to see others as the new creations that you have made them to be. May we be the display of you in the way we love each other!