1 Corinthians 15:10 English Standard Version (ESV) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Paul confesses here that it was hard for him to give up his old ways. He was hated and distrusted by these new Christians who had not found their way in faith. It took years before Paul shed the personality of Saul the oppressor. Some never forgot.

It is normal to remember the deeds of those who have wounded us before they came to Christ. According to Christ’s own words we have to forgive them and welcome them into the family of God. If others could do that for us, we owe it to them to do the same.

Leviticus 26:40-42 English Standard Version

40 “But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, 41 so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, 42 then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

Just because it is old school does not mean it is any less true. God is a God that does not change. We are the ones that are changed. That means learning to do things God’s way.

John 14:6 English Standard Version (ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

This is such a blessed verse to those who have placed their faith in Christ and a curse to those who say they can know god without Christ. Notice the use of the little g in spelling out God. If you do not know the One true Christ, you cannot know the One True God.

We will be hated for believing that, shunned and rejected for insisting on it and that is what Christ said would happen.

Matthew 10:22 English Standard Version (ESV) and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

What does it mean to you to be saved?

2 Corinthians 5:17 English Standard Version (ESV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.[creature] The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

What does it mean to be a new creation or creature if I look the same, feel the same, have the same aliments, have the same memories and at times even act the way I always have?

If we were to move to a foreign land with different languages, customs, leadership, and opportunities, don’t you think it would take some time to feel like you were a citizen of that country?

Entering into the Kingdom of God and living under the rule of the King of Kings is exactly like that. We have become a member of the family of God without actually moving, at least not yet.

Some of us undergo an instant change so drastic that the ones closest to us might think we have gone crazy. I did because the change came after I had three children and the oldest thought that the men with the straight jackets might show up at any moment.

It ook a year before my wife and daughters accepted my change and accepted Christ themselves. It took my son longer, he was the oldest.

People at work saw me change and most of them saw it as a good thing. There will always be skeptics waiting for us to fail. When it doesn’t happen they will stop watching our every move.

Those who knew me best from childhood are all passed on sadly. The others did not pay enough attention to form an opinion. They assume I’ve always been this way.

We get to know a whole new family when we place our faith in Christ. Some are new born, others wise beyond their years, some still hanging on to their “churchy” ways but brothers and sisters in Christ, every one of them.

It is difficult enough to get used to our new surroundings but the really hard part is having to live in a  physical world that is different from our spiritual kingdom. In the world but not of the world. The forces of that world are strong influencers but we must not give into them if we are going to serve our King. We are called into service with different gifts and callings, trying our best to fit into the mix.

It is a great mystery how some of us find our way around so easily while others struggle to find their new identity. It is hard to give up what we were sometimes.

1 Corinthians 15:10 English Standard Version (ESV) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.