The Great Surgery

When you became a Christian, something miraculous happened that you might not fully understand. The Holy Spirit performed a spiritual surgery, completely removing your old sinful nature. This wasn't a partial fix or a temporary solution - it was a complete transformation. Your old self died, and you were given a brand new nature. Here's what's remarkable: those destructive behaviors like anger, malice, slander, and greed are no longer part of who you are.

They belong to the old nature that was surgically removed. So when you find yourself acting in these ways, you're actually reaching back to grab something that's already been taken away. Every single action you take is either done in the Spirit (your new nature) or in the flesh(reaching back to the old).

There's no middle ground. This truth should both encourage and challenge you. You're not fighting to become someone new - you already are someone new! The battle is simply choosing to live from your new identity rather than returning to what's already been removed.

Bible Verse

'In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in God's power, who raised him from the dead.' - Colossians 2:10-11

Reflection Question

When you struggle with old patterns of behavior, are you living from your new nature in Christ or reaching back to what's already been removed?

Prayer

Holy Spirit, help me understand the completeness of what You've done in me. Remind me to live from my new nature rather than returning to the old. Amen.