What counts is a new creation (Gal 6:15)
I don’t usually check the Greek text in devotional reading, but this morning for some reason I did. To my surprise, in Gal. 6:15 the NIV rendition dropped the all important words “in Christ Jesus”; what Paul actually said was, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision is important, but a new creation.”

It is so easy for us to associate the New Creation with new Christians, for even Paul himself said, and we are more familiar with this, that “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” (2 Cor. 6:17) But new creation is not just a new Christian; an old Christian is forever a new creation—never gets old as long as he abides with Christ; and a new Christian ceases to be like a new creation if he does not abide in Christ, that is, he falls back to the old habits and lives as the old man. Sorry, apology to the seniors; no offence.

Daily devotion is an important practice to keep us checked; every morning, or evening, we have an opportunity to come before the Lord, renewing our relationship and learn to abide with Him and experience the newness of life. (Rm. 6:4) Some time ago, there was a popular song with lyrics like, “talk like an Egyptian, walk like an Egyptian, etc.”; well, do we talk like a new creation, walk like a new creation? Sometimes we do not understand why we are so sure of our salvation but are still ashamed that we are anything but like Jesus. The answer is whether we are a new creation in Christ Jesus. A new creation will have to be abiding in Him in order that we live like one.

As the New Year is approaching I hope this little devotional encourages you to be a new creation always.

“Happy Birthday to you! Make a wish!”

1 Corinthi 9:23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Since when, I don’t know? We got to make a wish before we cut the cake. My hope is to see every Christian read the Bible diligently, pray often and share the gospel whenever possible.

There are two kinds of wishes (vows), one is self-restrained, the other kind we need outside helps for it is not in our control. The former is a commitment of desires; the latter is a supplication, asking God to intervene. Of my three wishes, the first two are more or less self imposed desires and pretty much in self-control for I believe it is the wishes of all Christians to read the Bible and pray. Am I not a Christian? Let it start with me. After all, to be a partaker of the gospel is more than salvation; we benefit being a Christian by growing and enjoying the spiritual life because of the salvation.

Since you are here, I trust that you are a serious Christian and my three wishes are yours too; let us reap the benefits of the gospel together by reading Bible and praying often. If we keep on renewing our life, God will put our paths across others’ and let us share the gospel. God already answered my prayer, you and I, the two of us, we have already come! He will add others to us through this website. Let us share the three wishes, we can control the first two, and let God help us with the third wish. Shall we?

ETC

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