The Law and Sin<\/h5>\n

18\u00a0For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.<\/p>\n<\/div>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”SCRIPTURE #3″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

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2 Corinthians 5:17<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n

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The Ministry of Reconciliation<\/h5>\n

17\u00a0Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.<\/p>\n<\/div>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”SCRIPTURE #4″ _builder_version=”4.19.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||5px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]

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1 John 3:2<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n

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Children of God<\/h5>\n

2 Beloved, we are God\u2019s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.<\/p>\n<\/div>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Good Grief, I am a loser to sin. But with a new life in Christ Jesus, I am a winner with a new identity through Him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2438,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n

Your A Loser Charlie Brown<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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Good grief! That is a well-known expression in the life of Charlie Brown. This famous age-old cartoon character from the peanuts series cannot catch a break. In fact, you could call him a stereotypical American loser. Whenever he tried to kick the football, Lucy pulled it away at the last second and he flew through the air to land flat on his back. His baseball team has never won a game. Every spring, Charlie Brown went out to fly a kite, and each time it ended up in the tree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Good grief\u201d he would say in disappointment. Charlie Brown is a loser. No one wants to be like Charlie Brown. Nobody idolizes him. No one looks up to him. We might feel sorry for Charlie Brown but deep down inside we are relieved that we are not that bad\u2026 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

I'm A Loser Too<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

However, many times I have been in a \u201cgood grief\u201d situation. A Charlie Brown loser moment. Paul refers to this in Romans 7:15<\/a>, \u201cI do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.\u201d Charlie Brown could relate to this as well. We read on in Romans 7:18<\/a>, \u201cFor I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.\u201d I admit I am a loser to sin. I realize what I have done and think \u201cgood grief.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A New Life In Christ<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

But when I take these sins to the foot of the cross, I have a new life. I find this truth in 2 Corinthians 5:17<\/a>, \u201cThis means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!\u201d I am a new person with my identity in Jesus Christ. Because of the blood of Christ, my sin or failure no longer defines me. Not only am I forgiven, but I have become a new person, a child of God (1 John 3:2<\/a>). And not one of God's children are losers! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take another look at Charlie Brown. He is loyal, determined, a true friend, and a dedicated baseball manager. Charlie Brown never gives up, he is kind, patient by nature, and wears his heart on his sleeve by helping others. I see this as his new identity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Identity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Where is my identity? Through faith I am dead to sin. Yes, I am a sinner. Absolutely, I just blew it big time. Yes, I knock things on the floor and I\u2019m clumsy. But because of the blood of Christ and what he purchased on my behalf, that sin or failure no longer defines me. I am alive to God. By his doing, I am created in Christ Jesus for good works. I am chosen and set apart by God for noble, worthy, and holy purposes. This is my new identity. A worthy, good grief. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dear Lord, help others with a new identity through you. To understand and see
that they are a winner and not a loser. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phil Bamesberger<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daily devotions<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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