FEBRUARY 8, 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Mom! Mom!” called Ti Seng one morning. “Look what happened!” He was clutching a glass jar with holes punched in the lid and some twigs and leaves on the inside. Mom and Ti Seng’s sister, Emily, came into the room to find out what had happened. Mom took the jar, and they peered through the glass. “Oh, good!” said Mom. “This is great!”

“Great?” wailed Emily. “How can you say that? Fuzzy’s dead! He’s all closed up in that dead piece of skin. He’s not even moving!” “That’s okay, honey,” said Mom. “You’re going to learn a lesson about nature and a lesson about God, too. It’s all about new life.”

“Is Jesus going to give Fuzzy new life?” asked Emily.

“In a way, He is,” replied Mom.“I know you liked Fuzzy as a caterpillar, but this is all part of God’s plan for caterpillars. You knew this would happen. We have talked about it, don’t you remember?”

“Yeah, Emily. When the time is right, caterpillars weave a chrysalis around themselves, and then they change,” said Ti Seng. “I forgot,” said Emily.

“The chrysalis is what you see around Fuzzy now,” said Mom. “In a way, it dies as a caterpillar while it is in the chrysalis. However, you’ll get to see it as a new creature in a few weeks. It won’t be a caterpillar - it’ll be a butterfly.” Mom smiled. “It reminds me of the stages a person goes through in becoming a Christian,” she added. “We’re spiritually dead when we’re born into this world, but when we place our faith in Jesus, we’re born into God’s family, and we’re changed. We become alive in Him. Fuzzy will be more beautiful when it leaves that chrysalis, and our new life in Christ is much more beautiful and freer than the old one was.”

Ti Seng grinned. “And we didn’t even have to spin a chrysalis!” he said.

Thought: Are you aware that without Jesus, you are spiritually dead? However, the good news is that you can be made alive! Jesus gives new life to those who accept Him as their Saviour.

Prayer: Thank You Heavenly Father that if my sins are washed away, I am a new creation. Remind me it is far better in every way than the old sinful life I once knew. I know it is still a daily struggle for me to try not to sin. Please help me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.