05302026 New and Clean

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of God who makes us new and clean.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We have seen it happen, both in our own lives and in the lives of others. We long to see true conversions, where there is irrefutable evidence that God has completely changed someone, and we rejoice when we see it happen.

At times we also wonder. Why do we sometimes struggle so much to act like and think like the new person that we are? Why do some of those we work with seem to walk a fine line, at times acting like new creatures, and at times seeming no different than they were before? Why do some continually seem to be on the brink of disaster and ruin?

Only God knows who are the true believers, but for those who are, He is definitely working in their lives. That is His mission with them. “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:26-27).

He wants us to be clean and holy. With the old nature that battles within us, we sometimes struggle. We want to see total victory and complete transformation NOW, but God has a longer-range plan. His work is gradual, and He progressively does His cleansing and renewing work. I like to think of the completion date as the coming of Christ, as the below verses indicate. Until we are with Him, He still has time to do His work.

“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7).

Until that day comes, God is determined and committed. He will keep working. “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Thank God that He does not give up on us. Thank God that He does not give up on others. You may have people that you have worked with for years – that you have heavily invested in – and those people may have broken your heart with their continued struggles and inconsistency and failures. Today may your heart be encouraged and lifted up with the truth that God does not give up on His children. As long as they keep living and God keeps delaying His return, there is hope.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA