Mom Heart Moments #87

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

WHEN SARAH WAS A LITTLE GIRL, she was mesmerized by butterflies. She made an amazing collection with species of every size and color: huge swallowtails and little blue butterflies, moths with dull brown upper wings that hid a gorgeous underside, and every kind of small butterfly to be found in our Texas fields.

As we pursued this interest through a variety of books and nature stories, I was captured again by the story of the butterfly. Every butterfly and moth begins as a lowly caterpillar inching its way across the ground until it reaches the transforming shelter of its chrysalis or cocoon. Once inside, the old miracle happens again; the creeping, wormlike caterpillar gives way to a creature that is almost otherworldly in its beauty —a fragile and lovely butterfly.

This is such a poignant picture to me of the transformation that takes place in our own lives. When we were once simply creatures who had the burden of sin and condemnation to drag around, Jesus came and transformed us into beautiful new creatures who can fly freely through life in the power of His resurrection and love. A wormlike life as a sinful human being in need of transformation is an accurate picture of me apart from Christ, without His grace. Entering the cocoon is a picture of me dying to myself and my limitations. The newly emerged butterfly, beautiful and strong, is a picture of me living my life in the love of Christ.

I am indeed a butterfly —free to be new and perfect in Him.

Make a list of some things that have been transformed in your life since Christ began to renew your soul and spirit. Old things have passed away, and all things are new —you’re a butterfly too!