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2 Corinthians 5:6-17 So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. 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!
When I had first moved from the small town of Kingsville to the metropolis of Houston way back in the day, I was also plagued by the surge of adolescence. I questioned everything I knew, but especially this move - why was it necessary to move? Why couldn't we stay in that little paradise of our neighborhood? And this began to affect the way I thought about myself and the way I looked. And it affected the way I walked. I walked with my head down. My mom had shown me the place where the city bus would pick me up to take me to my junior high school, and she would watch me until I reached the three blocks destination of my bus stop and she began to say, "Muchacho, walk with your head up!" And she would tell me how special and wonderful I was, and I would listen but not believe. Did you ever wonder if your walk said anything about you and your beliefs?
Years later, I was told by my wife that several people that knew me enjoyed the spring in my step; that I walked with a confidence about me. I listened but did not believe but it did make sense; like this passage, our walk through life if it is indeed one with Christ Jesus Himself, is a walk of faith and boldness. It is a walk of acceptance, because Christ has accepted us as we are and loves us and has helped us overcome those things that were holding us back. Our faith was made stronger, our sins were taken away, our doubts were removed, and questions answered about life, life in the fullest, and life beyond this life - How much more confident could we walk?
Dear friend, walk as this passage says, not with a human point of view, for we humans are so hard on ourselves; we are spiritual creatures now and if in Christ, we are NEW spiritual creations; all our yesterdays ended at midnight, God has given us a present - the present moment; walk as though everything in your is new! Because it is!
PRAYER: Awesome God, grant me this faith to reflect in my walk with You - that I am completely new in all respects and in all needs. May my walk invite others to faith. This I pray in Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! WALK CONFIDENTLY, FOR YOU WALK NOT ALONE!
Eradio Valverde
