An Unfolding Adventure

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." 

2 Corinthians 5:17-18

哥林多后书

5:17    若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了。

5:18    一切都是出于　神，他藉著基督使我们与他和好，又将劝人与他和好的职分赐给我们。

Recently during a flight to Kansas City a woman from an adoption agency收养机构 sat behind me on the plane. In her arms she held two beautiful Korean babies. My heart melted. They both looked like little Ken Tadas with that gorgeous dark skin and hair, almond eyes and full cheeks. I couldn't take my eyes off those babies.

They had no idea of the life they were heading into. Within seconds of that plane landing, their lives would be turned upside down. They would have new names, new citizenship, a new culture, and new identities. They would have a new father and mother -- in fact, a whole new family. Old things would pass away. From then on, all things would be new. Those babies hadn't a clue as to what they were leaving behind, and more importantly, what was ahead.

When we become Christians we can't begin to fathom揣测 the new world we're stepping into. In Christ we have new identities, a new family, a new citizenship and -- at least in the Lamb's book of life -- we have new names.  Goodness, we're even adopted: "It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' they will be called 'sons of the living God'" (Hosea 1:10).

In a way I wish those Korean children could have understood. I wish they could have enjoyed starting a new life. But for them it will be an unfolding展开 adventure, just as it is for us as children of God... exploring, enjoying, discovering as any child would.

How about you? Are you enjoying your new life today? Old things are passed away for you; all things have become new. Delight in the unfolding adventure.

Father God, I don't want to take for granted what You removed me from and what You replaced it with. Enable me today to see with childlike wonder the splendor of my new life with You. You have richly blessed me. And You're not through yet!

父神啊，我不要把你在我以前生命中所施行的那些去除、代替、更新的大事当成理所当然。求你使我像孩子一样，去好奇你所赐给我们新生命的荣耀。你已经大大地赐福给我们，并且，你还没有停止赐福！阿门

Blessings,

Joni and Friends