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The blessings of new creation!

Scripture reading for February 1st: Exodus 4-6, Galatians 6

Galatians 6:14-18 “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God..”

God had given the Israelites the covenant sign of circumcision. All male babies were to be circumcised (Genesis 17:11-17) as a sign of the covenant God made with Abraham to bless all nations through his offspring. The Jews boasted of this covenant, and gloried in their status as a people marked by God. But Paul, a circumcised Jew, understood that God had made a ‘new covenant’ with His people, through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary. Paul’s boast was not in the old covenant of circumcision, but now in the new creation birthed in each believer through repentance and faith in Christ alone, marked through the gift of the Holy Spirit! The blessing of this ‘new creation’ is peace with God and enjoyment of His mercy and forgiveness of sins and adoption into His family, the true ‘Israel of God.’ As God promised deliverance from slavery to His people through Moses, the great “I Am” has done what He promised through ‘new creation’ in all who believe.

Exodus 6:6-7 “Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I Am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, Who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.”

Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, Who brings Your life and presence to live in my mortal body and makes me a ‘new creation’ in Christ Jesus our Lord! Thank You for initiating my salvation and bringing it to pass. Help me to boast only in Your cross and to live a life crucified to the world and alive to You. Give me opportunity to share this Good News with those needing peace and mercy.

2nd Corinthians 5:17-18 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, Who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. . .”