Old Life, New Life

In reference to your former way of life, you are to rid yourselves of the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you are to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. —Ephesians 4:22-24 (NASB).

Early summer is my favorite time of year. As soon as the temperature rises above seventy, I snatch up my sunglasses and head to the beach. I also love to watch the silver birch trees tickle each other in their groves and the peonies make their brief, but extravagant, entrance into the world.

Still … here I am enjoying another New England winter. As I look out the window at the icy landscape, everything looks dead. The naked trees have already pulled a blanket of snow over their roots, and the bare branches, white fields, and empty gardens conceal the-life-that-was just a few months ago. And yet … I choose to be optimistic, because I know new life is coming again.

The truth is, I have a choice whether to live in a spiritual winter, dead and cold, or in a new, spring-like reality. Before Christ, my own bare branches were frozen by uncertainty and fear, unable to bear any kind of fruit. I had no hope of warmer days, only loneliness, isolation, and angst. But, just as the sun breathes on the grass and trees to awaken their seeds in the spring, the Son breathed new life into my dried-up, dead soul. His Spirit germinated a life I had not yet known. Christ’s Spirit and mine joined together to create something brand new.

He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. —Colossians 1:15-17 NASB

Like a seed planted deep in the ground dies so it can truly live, we allow Christ to press us into Himself so that we can burst forth to new life, which is as tangible as a blooming peony. Only, unlike peonies, our bloom lasts forever.

When you accept, by faith, that Jesus died for you personally to pay the penalty for your sin and believe He was raised again, you enter a relationship with Him—a new life! This transformation from spiritual death to spiritual life is palpable. You will experience God in the same way a lifeless seed, when planted in fertile soil, watered, and exposed to the sun, comes to life. Then, we put on our robe of righteousness and walk confidently in a new direction.

Still, at times, I find myself wandering off course and the coldness sets in again. The snippy answers, impatient looks, and prideful defenses take me down a lifeless road. When this happens, I do what I did when I was fertile and green. I sit at Jesus’ feet, confess my waywardness, pray, read the Word, and walk with Him. Before long, I feel the sun on my face and joy fills me up. The petals of my heart receive the grace once again, and I am free to do the simple things that the path of new life brings—love God and love others.

Father, I pray that those who don’t know You would realize that they are spiritually dead and would accept the gift of life Jesus offers. For those of us who are prone to wander, turn us back to You quickly and keep us close to You.

And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. —1 John 5:11-13

If you would like to know more please check out the links below.
Answers by Billy Graham
Would You Like to Know God Personally?

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

Marlene

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

 Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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