BBD 08.14.03 A Fresh Start
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
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08.14.03
A Fresh Start
There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This
man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a
teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God
is with him." Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." For God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in
Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:1-3; 16.
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.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9.
I have a friend who will soon be released from prison and he recently told
me that he is looking forward to starting over. While he has been in prison,
he has lost all the property that he owned and it appears he has lost his
wife and family. A fresh start is being forced upon my friend because there
is no other option. However, for most of us, we do have options and once we
have begun traveling in a certain direction with our lives, it is rare that
we ever change directions. To change directions, to begin again when it is
not absolutely necessary does take courage and strength of character.
God offers to every person a most amazing thing! He offers a fresh start. We
can spiritually be "born again!" To be "born again" indicates that it will
be a most radical change. If you erase a hard drive on a computer by
reinstalling everything, it is a radical change. When a baby is born, it is
born with only the input it received while in the womb. Almost everything is
new to a newborn baby because it has never been experienced before. That is
what the apostle Paul is talking about in 2 Corinthians 5:17. Because of
being, "born again" of being "in Christ" everything is new. Being a "new
creation", we see and experience everything in a different way than before.
Once we have been "born again" the Word of God is alive in a way it never
was before. When we hear the Word of God preached it touches our hearts in a
much deeper way. Our relationships with people take on a new depth, as the
Holy Spirit will speak to us when we are unkind or hateful toward others.
When we pray we enter through the Name of Jesus the very throne room of
Father God. It is a new world indeed that a person enters by being "born
again." It is a fresh start!
If you have never been "born again" you can have the freshest start of all
by turning from your sins and turning to God by inviting Jesus Christ into
your life to be your Savior and Lord. If you have failed to live in a way
pleasing to God you too can have a fresh start and be forgiven of your sins
and be cleansed from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Is it time for a fresh start in your life?
Copyright © 2003. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals
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