New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:16–21

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

New creation. This phrase is perhaps familiar. We hear it when a child or an adult is baptized. Maybe we hear it occasionally in a sermon. We certainly hear it in Paul’s letters. But what is it? The last couple of days, God’s promise has been the focal point of these devotions. God’s promise opens up or introduces us into God’s renewal of creation. Through the promise—God’s steadfast love always offered—God invites us into new creation. God invites us into God’s ongoing activity, which is reconciling the world, reconciling all humanity, all creation to God’s self. We are invited to participate in this work: to be ministers of reconciliation. Don’t hide behind the walls created by society, whether they be boundaries of race, gender, class, etc. Living in those categories is old creation. God always invites us into the new beginnings of freedom, love of neighbor, and care of creation.

Prayer: God of disruption, you break down the barriers that divide; your promise reconciles all peoples. Dismantle within us all those barriers we build, so that your good intent, your new creation may be revealed. Amen