New Skin

READ: EPHESIANS 4:20-24; COLOSSIANS 3:8-14; HEBREWS 10:10-14 Have you ever seen a lizard shed their skin? Chameleons, for example, shed their skin whenever they get too big for it. Unlike humans, their skin doesn’t grow with them. So, when they get too big, they need to shed their smaller, ill-fitting skin and grow new skin. As Christians, we’re called to shed our old, sinful habits. Things like lying, cheating, and gossiping no longer fit us because Jesus has saved us from sin and given us a new life. Just like a chameleon puts on new skin, we need to put on new, godly characteristics that fit who we are as God’s children—things like kindness, patience, and humility. The Bible tells us that Christians take off the old self and put on the new self—the person Jesus has created us to be. And the only way to do this is through the Holy Spirit. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit lives in us, helping us turn away from sin and live in God’s good ways instead. We can be confident that Jesus has given us new life once we trust Him as our Savior. Then, we can celebrate that He has made us new people! That means our old, sinful ways no longer fit who we are because He has freed us from sin and given us His Spirit. It’s time to shed those old, sinful habits by seeing ourselves as new people, dead to sin and alive in the Holy Spirit because of what Jesus has done for us (Romans 6:11). Then, others can see the new people Jesus has created us to be—people who are like Him, filled with His kindness and love. • A. W. Smith • If you know Jesus, how have you seen evidence of God transforming you into a new person? How have you seen the Holy Spirit producing good fruit in your life (Galatians 5:22-23)? Consider taking a moment to thank God for this! (For more about trusting Jesus, see our “Know Jesus” page.) • What old, sinful habits do you still struggle to shed? Sometimes, these will be lifelong struggles, but we’re not alone. Jesus loves us completely, and He has already secured our forgiveness through His own death and resurrection. He invites us to come to Him in our weakness and receive His strength (1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 4:14-16). Consider taking some time in prayer, bringing your struggles to Jesus and thanking Him for His forgiveness. You can ask Him to help you shed these sins and walk forward in His good ways. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV)