10/25/2026
Have you ever watched a movie and been so lost until the plot unfolds at the end and you find yourself tracing back through all the subtle hints and hidden clues? Once you know the outcome, the clues become obvious. Sometimes so much so that your palm smacks your forehead without a thought in between.
Wouldn't life be so much easier if we knew the outcome?! We wouldn't have to stress about what career path to choose or how to manage a budget or which house will fit our needs 10 years from now. All the fine details woven inside the seemingly big decisions wouldn't be as in our face. Sometimes I find myself gripping a situation so tightly that I can't stand the sound of any noise. Isn't that crazy? The details are swimming around so loudly in my head that any extra sound is deafening.
The beauty of the Gospel is that we already know the end. We're out here working hard to figure out how the pieces align when, in reality, God already has the puzzle together. We just need to chill and let Him move our pieces when He knows is best. With this in mind, I've learned to read Scripture in the context of the surrounding verses - because it all fits together. And, just like a puzzle or movie plot, if we look at each piece or clue from different viewpoints (instead of shoving pieces where they don't belong), we can find the outcome much faster.
2 Corinthians has many passages that I like to read backwards. Doing that here, we're going to start with verse 18 and work our way back..
18 ...this is a gift from God...
17 ...anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
16 ...At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know Him now!
The Gospel is different than any other "religion" because of the relationship we can have with Jesus. We can know Him differently, on a deeper level. That's how we can become a new person. We aren't refurbished, rehabilitated, or reeducated... we are re-created in Christ! The cleansing of our souls on the inside is what allows us to walk into the same life with a different viewpoint, a different perspective, a different attitude. We still face the same decisions but we face them confidently, knowing that God gifted Jesus to us so we don't have to fear the steps in between.
We can choose a career path knowing that it's ok if the path goes into different territory. We can learn to steward the money we earn wisely. We can live inconveniently in a smaller or "unfinished" house for a season because we know home is not defined by a house. Here to eternity is already paved!! If it doesn't keep us from Heaven, then we shouldn't sweat about it.
🫶,
Renee
Abba Father, You are holy and righteous! Thank You for sacrificing so we have the opportunity to become new creations through Jesus. Help us walk boldly in faith knowing our decisions matter. Remind us that we don't have to worry because You've already worked out the fine details. May Your fresh air fill our lungs. May Your holy fire burn deeply within our souls. Pour out Your oil of anointing as You see fit. We love You Lord! Dwell in us! In Jesus Name, Amen
