The New Me
My family has enjoyed the movies “Despicable Me”. Despicable Me 3 is in theatres now. The word DESPICABLE means: deserving to be despised, or regarded with distaste, disgust, or disdain; contemptible. That is how I used to be. When I look at who I used to be and how I used to act – I was despicable – especially in the Lord’s eyes. He loved me when I was despicable. I love the book of Ephesians. Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus and he speaks clearly about how things should be. Check this out….
20 But that is not how you came to know Christ, 21 assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, 23 to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. (Ephesians 4:20-24 CSB)
My problem is that I revert to my despicable life rather than stay and live in this abundant, joy-filled life that He provides. He has changed me and the old Dwayne no longer lives – the new Dwayne is grace filled because I’ve received grace. The new Dwayne is forgiving because I’ve been forgiven. The new Dwayne loves deeply because I was loved first. I want to live and walk with the very Spirit of God over-flowing out of me. I want to not be quick to anger like the old despicable me.
I am confident that there are lots of despicable people in this world who need a new start – a new life. Jesus has changed every area of my life and I’ve forever different in a good way. I’m not longer living a despicable life (even though I stumble backwards some days) – I’m living with hope and a future that is incredible!
Pressing On!
Dwayne