Scripture Focus: Matthew3; 4
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”
— 2 Corinthians 5:17
Today, I am reminded that being in Christ means I am no longer who I once was. I am a new creation. This new life does not begin in comfort or familiarity—it begins with repentance, surrender, and transformation.
In Matthew 3, we are introduced to John the Baptist, a man set apart for God’s mission. Scripture tells us that “his food was locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:4). John lived in the wilderness, fully dedicated to preparing the way for Jesus. Everything about him—his clothing, his food, his lifestyle—pointed away from himself and toward God’s purpose.
John did not look like someone who would naturally attract crowds. His appearance and way of life could have pushed people away. Yet people went out to meet him—from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the whole region of the Jordan (Matthew 3:5). This reminds me that when God is truly at work in someone, His presence draws people—not appearances, not comfort, not convenience.
The wilderness John lived in was not a pleasant place. The wilderness, throughout Scripture, is often a place of testing. Jesus Himself was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tested. But the wilderness is also a place of dependence—a place where reliance on self is stripped away and reliance on God is learned. It is where God teaches His people to trust His provision, just as He did with John and with the Israelites wandering in the desert. The wilderness is also a place of God’s guidance and presence.
After John was put in prison, Jesus began to preach. Interestingly, Jesus preached the exact same message as John:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17).
This is why some people mistakenly thought Jesus was John—because the message had not changed. God’s call remained the same: repent, turn, prepare your heart.
Then Jesus called His first disciples. When He called them, they left everything they had been doing and followed Him immediately. They did not hesitate. They did not negotiate. They did not hold onto what was familiar. They left everything behind to go with Him.
This challenges me deeply. Am I truly ready to leave everything behind to follow Him? Am I willing to let go of comfort, control, and familiarity to walk in obedience?
Being a new creation means accepting that my life no longer belongs to me. It means understanding that Jesus is not only my Savior—He is my Lord. I cannot live passively anymore. I cannot serve two masters. I must choose Him fully.
Today, I choose repentance. I choose surrender. I choose to follow Jesus wherever He leads, even if it takes me into the wilderness—because that is where dependence is learned, faith is refined, and obedience is formed.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for making me a new creation in Christ. Teach me to walk in repentance and surrender daily. Help me to let go of anything that keeps me from fully following You. Give me the courage to leave behind what is familiar and the faith to trust You in the wilderness. I choose You again today.
Amen.
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