stained glass jesus

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock. and gave me a firm place to stand.
 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 

As we can see from these passages from the bible, God delights in making broken lives, broken people, “new”. We are not forever trapped in who we’ve become, in the life we have created for ourselves. We have learned that we cannot pick ourselves up, wipe the dirt off, smooth out the wrinkles of our lives, and be merrily on our way.  We have all tried and failed, and most of us are sick of trying. We need something new.

What a joy it is to know that God wants to make us… make you, new.  Just think, a new creation, a new heart, and a new song. We had lost our desire, and our energy, to sing long ago, and have since spent much of our lives mourning. But now, God desires to have us sing for Him again.

We spoke last time about our “shattered image”; the image that we, as humans, were created to share with God, that was broken by our rebellion, and self-rule. We have learned that we cannot piece together the shards of our brokenness ourselves, the repair must be made by our Creator. How does He heal and restore us? He gives us new life…resurrected life. We are made new in Jesus Christ, and now those of us who have given up and have come to God for forgiveness, mercy, and healing are being transformed into Jesus’ Image. Not resolutions, but restoration. Not more will power, but humble trust. Not sweat and strain, but surrender to the One who loves you and wants to recreate you to be who you were designed to be in Him…the real you.

So, as to the question “can God make even me beautiful?”, the answer is a resounding “yes”.  He will fill you with love, forgiveness, kindness, compassion, and joy. These may not come overnight, but they will come, God has promised. Won’t you please join all of us who are being transformed by God, too? Please give your brokenness to Him because He loves you so, an join with us who are being made beautiful too. May God bless you, Friend.