Devotional: New Assignment

2 Corinthians 5:16-17

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17).

The apostle Paul writes to the church at Corinth. He writes to inform them that as new creatures in Christ they are recipients of eternal life. Eternal life is not simply a matter of a person dying and going to heaven. Eternal life begins the moment that a person gives his or her life to Jesus Christ. The moment that one receives Christ, he or she are given a new assignment that comes along with their new life. I am reminded of my military days.

I join the army. I take an oath and make a pledge to be under the authority of the U.S. Army. At that moment I am no longer my own man. Now, I belong to the army. I am sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for basic training. I do not decide where I will go for basic training. I am sent there on a new assignment. After arriving at Fort Jackson, I begin to fully understand that my life is not my own any longer. I belong to Uncle Sam. In less than twenty-four hours I take off my civilian clothes and put on military clothes. I get a military hair cut. They do not style my hair. They cut it all off. Now, I look like a different person. I feel like a different person. By now, I understand that I am expected live and act like a different person. I sleep on a small military cot (bed). I go where I am told to go. I do what I am told to do. At the end of eight weeks of basic training I receive orders from the U.S. Army. I have a new assignment. I am going to Fort Devens, Massachusetts for training for the job that I will be doing for the next four years. The army is at liberty to issue orders for a new assignment at any time.

I allow the government to control my life. Why is it so hard for me to allow God to have the same authority to control my eternal life? Eternal life is a new assignment.

Prayer: Father we thank you for new life. We accept your authority to determine how we live. We obey your orders, and we accept our new assignments that you give to us. Amen.