A New Creation

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!” 1 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) I was born as a Cree person, and I am very proud of who I am. I was raised by my mom and dad with values and virtues. There has been a lot of talk lately about “finding yourself” in order to be healed. I was never healed because of who I was, but by the saving grace of God the Creator, who through His Son Jesus Christ, saved me from eternal separation from God. God gave me a new living hope and transformed me from within. I let go of the old nature, but I never lost my identity as a Native person when I came to Christ. In the Word of God, I am called a new creation. This verse does not say I am no longer a Cree person who gives up my language and culture, but God starts dealing with the sin in my life and begins the process of sanctification. This will never stop until the day the Lord returns, or I am called home to be with the Lord forever. The above Scripture talks about God giving me a new life because I have put my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior who died for me on the cross to pay my penalty of sin. Acts 4:12 says “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” God changes my life internally and externally and sets me apart for His glory. When we become new creations, the Holy Spirit leads, guides and teaches us through the Word of God to live our lives holy unto the Lord and sets us apart for His glory to represent Him, and to honor Him with our lives. – Ken Mitsuing   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org