“…but let God transform you into a new person…” Romans 12:2
January 1, 2018 – New Year’s Morning
It’s a new day in a new year in a new life. Each day in Jesus can be new. “His mercies,” the Bible teaches, “begin afresh each morning,” (Lamentations 3:22-23). So, no matter what happened in the past decade, the past year, the past day, or last night, you and I have a chance at the newness of life offered through faith in Jesus Christ. I woke up this New Year’s morning thinking about new things, no doubt like many others, but then it hit me. A memorized Bible promise flitted across my mind and dropped into my heart: “Behold, I make all things new,” (Rev. 21:5). That’s a specific promise for a time to come, but because of my relationship with Jesus Christ, that promise is also for now, today in my day, my year, my life. And in yours, too, if you believe in the one who made the promise.
Spiritual renewal is made possible by the cross. Jesus Christ was born as a man to live a sinless life in order to break through the sin, shame, pain, guilt, and regret of every man. Any man. All men. It is possible for us to have new spiritual birth because Jesus died–but he didn’t stay dead. He rose from the dead to break through your sin, your shame, your pain, your guilt, and your regrets from the past. He was crucified on a Roman cross, put in a tomb, and on the third day, he rose from the dead (see e.g. Luke 24). He rose so that “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” (Romans 10:13). That salvation happens when any person puts their faith and trust wholly in him. (For more on this topic, see my previous post Born on Christmas? http://janetdecaster.com/blog.)
Jesus Christ was born about 2018 years ago (we measure time by his birth, by the way) to die and rise again so that you and I could be spiritually born anew, not only eternally but also daily. So that begs the question: How does one “live anew” each day? It is through daily living with the help of the Holy Spirit, the helper of Jesus. Newfound freedom from the pain of the past, unhealthy habits, hang-ups and addictions is available through a vibrant, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, empowered by his Holy Spirit and informed by his Word, found in the Bible. As Saint Paul wrote to the Romans (and to us today): “Don’t copy the behavior, and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2). Put your faith in Jesus Christ, and he will begin the process of making all things new in your life. With the transformative help of the Holy Spirit and the guidance of his Word, he will begin a process of turning you into a new person. (Our eternal salvation is immediate, but daily renewal is a process.) As Scripture tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new,” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Putting your whole life into the hands of Jesus Christ, by faith, is the best New Year’s resolution you can make. It will renew your life in the only way that lasts for eternity.
Christian Author & Speaker, Janet DeCaster, holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a J.D. from Emory University School of Law, and a Certificate of Biblical Studies from ACTS International Bible College. She has served as a Pastor to women in a local Church, a Deacon, a global missions team member and committed volunteer in many capacities in the Church. She has authored two books, available through her website http://janetdecaster.com
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