ALTERED

“To have been made different in some particular way”

I like change, and when I hear or think about this word it conjures up images of change: an old or new piece of clothing made to just right…a room or building made to fit a specific type of occupant or purpose…maybe a “makeover” creating a new look.

Whatever you think about, altered connotes change. It infers, suggests, and implies that something is different. As a believer we are promised this. We get to wash away all that we have done…we get to stop looking back and change our focus to what is ahead:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

I want this, and as a matter of fact I need this. These fresh mercies each day don’t mean that I live sinfully dependent on grace for forgiveness. This amount of grace that proceeds anything I do is a constant reminder to do everything in my power to avoid sin.

So I am altered in two ways. First, as a believer I am altered from the person I have made myself to be into a new creation. Scripture says I am made white as snow in God’s eyes – that is so cool. But I am also altered another way…I no longer want to live for myself, but for the God whose grace saves me, altering the choices I make, and ultimately the kind of person I am.

That is so stinking cool…I said I want and need this. I also want it for everyone I know. I especially want our younger generations to get this, to understand, appreciate, and acknowledge it! It is what we try to teach our youth. This is also why we are naming our brand new Jr./Sr. High School Ministry just that = Altered!

So why don’t you take this word and Jesus to heart and let Him ALTER you…you will never be the same again…