Different ?

Friday, March 4, 2022

Different ?

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away ; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5.17

Few things differentiate at first sight the Christian from other men... He has the same type of qualities as the others and he is subject to the same weaknesses. He lives in the same society and enjoys the same means of subsistence. He can also experience failure, both in his private life and in his professional career. He also sometimes experiences great discouragement. Until then, no difference... So what is the point of becoming a Christian ?

And it is with this question that the first specificity appears: one does not become a Christian out of interest. The Christian is a person who, because of Christ, has changed his point of view on life, and thereby changed his behavior. This is someone whose soul society has failed to satisfy. Someone whom despair may have brought to their knees one day until Jesus Christ picks them up and gives them another perspective...

Yes, we evolve in the same "aquarium" as Francis Cabrel sings (Des hommes comparable), but our gaze does not stop at the window ! We share battles but we do not have the same weapons. We do not always have the same pleasures and opinions because we prefer the order of things established by God for our good. So, is the Christian different ? Basically yes !

Jocelyn Cassirame

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Proposed reading : 2nd Letter to the Corinthians, chapter 5, verses 11 to 21.

5.11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we seek to convince men ; God knows us, and I hope in your consciences you know us too.

5.12 We do not recommend ourselves to you again ; but we give you occasion to boast about us, that you may respond to those who take glory in appearances and not in the heart.

5.13 Indeed, if I am out of sense, it is for God ; if I have common sense, it's for you.

5.14 For the love of Christ urges us on, because we consider that if one died for all, then all are dead ;

5.15 and that he died for all, so that those who live may no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose again for them.

5.16 So from now on we know no one according to the flesh ; and if we have known Christ according to the flesh, now we no longer know him in this way.

5.17 If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old things have passed away ; behold, all things have become new.

5.18 And all this comes from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

5.19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, imputing not their trespasses unto men, and he hath put in us the word of reconciliation.

5.20 We therefore act as ambassadors for Christ, as if God were exhorting through us ; we implore you in the name of Christ : Be reconciled to God !

5.21 He who knew no sin he made sin for us, that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Source (Live Today)