I’ve been robbed! That is one of the first revelations I had after I started diligently studying the Word and realized I wasn’t living the life Jesus died to give me. At first it made me mad, but it was the truth I needed to hear to help me begin an amazing transformation to a life I can honestly say I now enjoy.
For many years before this, I was a Christian but I wasn’t serious about my walk with God. As a result, I was miserable. I didn’t have any real peace or joy, and I felt guilty most of the time.
Thankfully, God showed me through John 10:10 that I didn’t have to be miserable and I could have abundant life in Christ. But I needed to change! I remember asking God to show me what I needed to do to become the person 2 Corinthians 5:17b (AMP) said I should be: “A new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]…”
Have you ever thought, “If I’m so new, why do I act like the ‘old me’?” Well, becoming a “new creature” from the inside out is a process that takes time. When we accept Christ as our Savior and we’re born again, we receive the nature of everything God is in seed form. 1 John 3:9a (AMP) says, “God’s seed [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] remains [permanently] in him.”
Seeds have to be watered and take root before they can produce fruit. And the fruit of having life in Christ is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). It’s the ability to deal with challenges and overcome them by God’s grace so others will see Christ in you and want what you have.
