"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
Happy New Year! 2014 is here. It's a new year! When I look at the calendar and see a new year, it reminds me of our life in Christ. Through receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, all things become new. We receive new hope, a new life, and a new destiny. It means we have a new Father in God, a new found faith in Christ and a new relationship with God through the Holy Spirit. In Christ we really do have a new beginning.
A man was an inmate in a federal penitentiary. He had a life sentence as a convicted murderer. During the early years of his sentence, someone shared the good news of Christ with him. He committed his life to Christ. He knew according to the Bible that all of his sins were forgiven, even the sin of murder. He had no real hope of ever getting out of prison. He gave his personal testimony at a chapel service in prison. He said, "I have no hope of getting out of prison, but thank God, Jesus Christ took the prison out of me. I was a prisoner to hate, jealousy, bitterness, lust, and all kinds of sin. Jesus set me free. He's the new beginning of my life."
All of us need a new beginning. We need to be set free from the failure, guilt, shame and hurts of the past. A new calendar shows the days of a fresh start, but only the power of Christ can change us in such a way that old things pass away and all things become new.
God has a new beginning for you in Christ. Ask God to forgive all of your past sins and failures through Jesus Christ. Ask God to give you a new beginning in Christ. Ask for new faith, hope, and love, that comes only through our Lord Jesus Christ.
God, give us a new beginning through Jesus Christ.
