A chameleon has an excellent way of growing. It simply sheds its skin, and it can continue to increase in size.
A butterfly does something similar. If it stays in its chrysalis, it will never spread its wings and fly.
Aquatic turtles also shed, peeling thin plates off their shells and extra skin from their head and limbs into the water around them.
These animals can’t hold onto every part of who they were and become who they are supposed to be.
1 John 1:9 reveals this process in the life of the Christian.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
We can’t grow in Christ if we hold onto our old ways. We must allow our Lord to change us, if we want to become more like him. Our old mannerisms, vices, and attractions must slough away like old, dirty skin, carried from us by the cleansing power of our Savior’s blood.
We become like the butterfly, and we can spread our wings and fly. We will be beautiful with Christ’s glory infused in all that we do, and the world will see that we belong fully to him.
When we offer ourselves to Christ, we become brand new in him.
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Code: FGO.C.21.18d.vp.esv