Do Not Fear

(Our Theme for June)

2 Corinthians 5: 17:

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

One of my favorite stories is Beauty and the Beast. Maybe you saw the movie or perhaps the Broadway play. At any rate, you likely know the tale. A handsome prince has been cast under a spell which changed him into a large, ugly-looking beast. Belle is a beautiful young maiden who lives in the same castle. The beast tries to win Belle’s love but he is unsuccessful; he is insecure because he feels ugly and awkward which causes him to relate to her with anger and intimidation. Beast’s behavior only drives Belle further away until, through a single act of kindness, she sees in him the possibility of kindness. Belle begins to respond to the kindness. The kindness produces warmth and she responds to the warmth. The warmth becomes caring and she responds to the caring. The caring becomes love and she responds to the love, so that in the end her love transforms him. The beast becomes a prince again and they live happily ever after.

The beast in the story reminds me of angry people I know and it occurs to me that every single one of those people wants to be loved, wants caring and acceptance. I think of power people who try to get what they want by intimidation. And I think of myself and the times I am angry or frustrated or seek to get my way regardless of the feelings of others.

We can think of Beauty and the Beast as Christian allegory. Beauty is the Christ—pure, lovely, honorable. And I am Beast—with impulses that can damage my relationships and keep me from being my best self. But when the beauty that is Christ touches my life I am freed from the slavery to beastly behavior.

2 Corinthians 5:17 is translated in the King James Version:

“If any man is in Christ he is a new creature.”

Prayer:

Dear God, Make me a new being, changed, transformed by your love. Amen.

This devotional was written and read by Herb Sadler.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.