Late night with the Lord

About once a month I have a night where I just cannot sleep. I have too much on my mind and cannot seem to stop thinking so that I can fall asleep. Last night was one of those nights. I finally gave up and got up at 12:30. I grabbed my Bible and crawled back into bed.

I was working on my study of grace and read the following:

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

I then started reading in Matthew about the healings and ministry that Jesus Christ had while He was here on earth. I was reading about when a paralytic man was brought before Jesus and Jesus tells him that his sins are forgiven. Some of the teachers of the law where saying that Jesus was committing blasphemy because He was forgiving sins. Matthew records that Jesus responded by saying:

"Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." Then he said to the paralytic, "Get up, take your mat and go home." And the man got up and went home.
(Matthew 9:5-7)

I was just thinking about how the people thought that it was so important to be "healed" on the outside, but Jesus is most interested in "healing" their hearts and forgiving their sins. Jesus has the power and authority to do both. He wants to make each of us a new creation...this begins by making me a new creation on the inside that will then exude to the outside. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and that He has made me a new creature!

I think today might be a good day for a nap. :)