‘New’ from the Inside—Out!
Before anything, pull out your earbuds, tune in this melody “Good Morning” by Mandisa & TobyMac. Prepare to dance as we celebrate this ‘new’ morning, this ‘new’ hope, this ‘new’ day.
On Wednesday, I received the wonderful gift of going to lunch with co-workers and my employer. We chose a local Mexican fare. After we were seated in a booth near a window, I found myself looking toward the sound of these words: “Watch out for Ms. ‘New.’ ” I heard this statement as a man passed by on his way to his table. Looking up, I saw Michael’s smile as we exchanged greeting. Immediately, his words caused an odd stirring in my heart, the simple word ‘new’ took on a uniqueness, and now, today (days removed from this encounter) I am struck by the enormity of the words Michael spoke—‘New.’
Years ago when my husband proposed, changing my name was a big deal, and I remember practicing on paper the writing of my ‘new’ name—Mrs. ‘New’—Nancy ‘New.’ No longer was I to be the person who wore my ‘old’ name because now (on that day back in 1986), I began wearing a ‘new’ name.
Today as I read God’s Word during these beautiful days of Advent, I find myself focused on the most-amazing way God makes mankind ‘new’ from the inside out at the very moment a person receives Jesus as Savior. From that moment, the old has passed away and all things become ‘new’ because we now receive our identity in Christ Jesus. It is a truth—We Bare A ‘NEW’ Name—Christian!
The apostle John revealed this truth of God in this manner—
“And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
(The Revelation to John 21: 5 NASB)
And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
Jesus taught that we must speak His word in faith; in fact, we are to speak & to write the words of truth. Over the past five years, the Lord has provided me space and time to write, and as I place my fingers on the keyboard, typing out the letters, words, phrases, sentences, and passages from the Bible, one solitary beautiful thought resonates inside me—The Word of God has become fresh & beautifully ‘new’ to me. I find that as I type each word found within a particular verse, the act of typing the verse, of writing out the verse, word-by-word revealed the presence of God ‘new,’ refreshing, and wonderful. It’s as if I have become brand ‘new’ all over again, and the neatest part of all this is that this ‘newness’ occurs every dawn of every ‘new’ day.
- LORD, thank You for a ‘new’ day. Help us walk through this ‘new’ day You have created, and as we walk, place rejoicing & gladness within our hearts.
- LORD, as we traverse throughout today, we will seek to honor You in all that we do.
- LORD, we will strive to not fall short but to walk in the ‘newness’ of Your mercies, which You promise in Your Word, how they are ‘new’ every morning.
- LORD, it is You who saved our souls, who defeated Satan, & who drove his darkness out of our being as You replaced the darkness and separation with Your glorious LIGHT. We will walk—delivered & faithful & mindful—fully cognizant how it is YOU WHO MADE US BRAND ‘NEW!’
- LORD, despite the trials that come today, we pray for Your guidance, Your control, Your grace to permeate all that we speak, act, and think.
- LORD, help us to never forget how Your Son Jesus Christ died to cover our sins with His precious blood—YOUR AMAZING GRACE!
HALLELUJAH, WE ARE ‘NEW’ FROM THE INSIDE—OUT!
God gave a charge to His ‘new’ man Joshua who was commissioned to lead the Israelites into the Promise Land. As Joshua assumes his ‘new’ position leading the children of Israel into a ‘new’ land—
“Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
(Joshua 1: 10-11 NASB)
“Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.’ “
- Truly, what words do you individually use to confess what you believe about the Christian faith?
The great theologian Augustine wrote these words to express the incarnation of the Lord Jesus. As I read, I found myself overwhelmed by the enormity of just what God did for us when He left heaven to take on flesh and walk among us as the Son of God. I caution you to read slowly, to take in every descriptive, ‘new’ word, to absorb God’s Amazing Grace in a fresh, ‘new’ way—
“Man’s Maker was made man,
that He, Ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother’s breast;
that the Bread might hunger,
the Fountain thirst,
the Light sleep,
the Way be tired on its journey;
that the Truth might be accused of false witness,
the Teacher be beaten with whips,
the Foundation be suspended on wood;
that Strength might grow weak;
that the Healer might be wounded;
that Life might die.”
—Augustine
YES, HALLELUJAH, WE HAVE BEEN MADE ‘NEW’ FROM THE INSIDE—OUT!
THANK YOU, GOD, FOR SENDING YOUR SON JESUS TO DIE IN OUR PLACE!
THANK YOU, GOD, FOR RAISING JESUS FROM THE DEAD TO ‘NEW’ LIFE!
THANK YOU, GOD, FOR YOUR AMAZING GRACE!
Therefore, in closing, may we be reminded how God gave King Solomon, the man who was gifted with great wisdom, this prayer. May we also pray on this ‘new’ day & be washed in ‘newness’ at this amazing gift of WHO WE PROCLAIM AS OUR LORD—
“May his name endure forever;
(Psalm 72: 17-19 NASB)
May his name increase as long as the sun shines;
And let men bless themselves by him;
Let all nations call him blessed.
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel,
Who alone works wonders.
And blessed be His glorious name forever;
And may the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen, and Amen.”