New Creation in Christ

by Lettie Cederquist

I have been enjoying our recent warm, sunny weather. As I now work from home, I like to eat lunch outside as often as possible. It’s so refreshing to see the beautiful blue sky, hear the birds singing, and walk around the backyard to see what’s happening with our plants. We have some deciduous trees, and over Christmas Break our sons asked what happened to the trees because we’d pruned them and they now looked barren. But wow, how things have changed in the past month or so! One of the trees is leafing out beautifully. Another one has many buds—and just a few mornings ago the first blossoms appeared! I’m truly amazed by God’s creation and beauty and the changes He’s working in the plants in our backyard.

Observing these changes reminds me of a refrain we often sing during Sunday morning worship:
Even when I don’t see it, You’re working.
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working.
You never stop. You never stop working…

What a wonderful God we serve who not only works marvelous growth and beauty in the plants around us, but also works in each one of us! In 2 Corinthians 5:17, God’s Word tells us: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

God loves us so much that through Jesus’ death and resurrection we have His Holy Spirit guiding and working in each of our lives, making each of us a new creation. God has implanted fruit in us—the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22). Isn’t it wonderful that our God wants to use us to reflect His beauty and light through the spiritual fruit growing in us? Yes, when frustrations arise we can forget how to respond in ways that reflect that beautiful fruit, but thankfully God is still working. He gave us the changing seasons in nature as one way to remind us.

Gracious Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the beauty of creation. As we move from winter into spring, we see new life and new beauty emerging in the outdoors. Thank you for this visual reminder that life and beauty exist even though the plants and trees so recently looked barren. Thank you for the prompting of your Holy Spirit to show us that just as You work in nature, You work in us, even when we don’t see it or feel it. Thank you for making each of us a new creation through your Son, Jesus Christ. May we seek You daily and allow your Holy Spirit to continue making us anew so our lives may reflect your spiritual fruit more each day—all for Your glory. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.