“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone; the new has come.” 2 Cor 5:17.

I was reading my daughter The Beauty and the Beast this week and was sweetly reminded of my new identity because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Thanks to him, I am a new creation. The old Katie was crucified with Jesus (Romans 6:6), and I was given new life in him. When Jesus saved me, much like in the story of The Beauty and the Beast, I turned from a beast into a prince. It seems too good to be true, but because of His love for me, that’s who I am now.  I have a new Father; He is a King and has given me the right to call him “Abba,” Papa, Daddy. The enemy will tell me I’m still a beast, but when I look in the mirror of God’s word, I am reminded that I am a prince. Forever. Not because of anything I did but because of what He did for me. I don’t have to keep earning my right to be a prince, because it’s who I am. No matter what. I may mess up, but I will never be a beast again.  The security of my new identity does not rest on me, but on the one who transformed me into a prince. My identity is forever secure in him. He is my righteousness. Grace isn’t license to recklessly act like a beast; it’s freedom to act like a prince. And now that I know I am a prince (or princess, I should say!), I can act like one.

Christ doesn’t just make us better beasts. He makes us new. Thank you Jesus. You are THE BEAUTY! You love us and break the curse of sin on us. You transform us back into the prince God created us to be. We did nothing to deserve this! You loved us WHILE WE WERE BEASTS and…MADE US ROTALTY!? It’s hard to even comprehend. All I can say is thank you. To you be all the glory!!!

“And let the BEAUTY of the Lord our God be upon us.” Psalm 90:17

“When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute BEAST before you.” Psalm 73:22

“But you are a chose people, a ROYAL priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.” Psalm 145:13