His Work in Us – God Doesn’t Deal in Hand-me-downs 

By Roxanne Drury 

Do you remember those days of getting new clothes for school? How pleased and excited we were to wear them on that very first day! Somehow, it made the whole upcoming school year feel bright and full of promise. 

But when you think about it, new clothes are merely external. They dress the outside, but what about the inside? 

Quite often, my “new” clothes were “new-to-me clothes”. Oh, it was still exciting, but there was always the deep-seated dread that someone would notice they were hand-me-downs. On the inside, I carried a secret fear of being exposed – lingering anxiety that I wasn’t wearing the real thing. 

Here’s the good news: God doesn’t offer superficial make-overs or hand-me-down fixes. He makes a profound promise in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 

New at the Core 

God’s work in us, once we are “in Christ”, changes everything. Those changes don’t just sit on the surface – they happen deep down inside us, at our very core. Unlike temporary clothes, God promises a total, transformational work at the heart of who we are. 

Through faith in Jesus, God recreates us with intention and purpose. Ephesians 2:10 explains: 

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” 

What Jesus did on the cross makes this inner transformation possible. Yet, much like my childhood fear of hand-me-downs, we sometimes resist God’s spiritual renewal out of fear or uncertainty about His plans. 

Reflecting the Inside Out 

What we wear externally has no bearing on what God is cultivating inside of us. When we “put on Christ” and surrender to Him in prayer, the inside change eventually shines outward – reflected in a happy heart, a joy-filled spirit, love for others, kindness, hospitality, and the unique good works He prepared for us. 

We don’t need to fear the inner changes God is making. You are not a hand-me-down creation; you are His intentional masterpiece, being renewed for His glory! 

Key Takeaways 

• Surface vs. Heart: External upgrades only change appearances, but God’s transformation redefines our identity from the inside out (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
• No Hand-Me-Down Faith: God doesn’t give us second-hand grace or leftover purpose; in Christ, every believer is a completely new, intentional creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). 
• Visible Fruit: True spiritual renewal begins internally in prayer and grace, naturally flowing outward through kindness, love, and good works (Matthew 5:16). 

Think About This 

1. Have you ever tried to fix an “inside” heart issue using “outside” temporary solutions? How did that work out?
2. Is there an area of your life where fear is holding you back from fully embracing the new thing God wants to do in you?
3. How can you allow the inward work of the Holy Spirit to show up in your outward actions toward others this week?

Roxanne Drury is a wife, mother, grandmother, and retired Christian preschool teacher who served the Lord in children’s ministry for over 45 years. She has written a group study guide on Psalm 23, as well as other books. She may be reached at [email protected].