“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” - 2 Cor 5:17
Did you know that when Jesus died on the cross, He died to make everything new? No, really, I mean EVERYTHING?
When we’re in a tough spot and we can’t see out of it, we need to realize that there is hope, that this is not the end of the road. When we’re tried something and it didn’t work out or an obstacle got in the way, we need to know that just as surely as the sun rises that God, through Jesus Christ, has given us a “new day”.
In the Bible, there was a woman with a horrible medical condition where she bled constantly for 12 years. That is a really long time! The doctors she saw weren’t able to fix her problem, and she had spent all of her money trying to get well. I’m sure she must’ve gone through extreme doubt and hopelessness over her situation. “How will I ever get past this?” she must’ve thought. But when she heard about Jesus, she thought to herself, “I will try once more, I will go to find this man whom everyone is talking about." She could easily have given up after 12 years. But she went anyway. “She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.” (Luke 8:43-47) She was given a fresh start!
Whether old dreams, old visions, old prophecies, old habits, old ways of thinking, or relationships that seem to be taking us backward, God can redeem all the time lost in these areas. In Christ, there is no such thing as a failed try. We can begin new again!
Do you believe that EVERYTHING is new in Christ Jesus, even for your past mistakes? Believe today and trust Jesus, that all things in your life have been made new in Him, and have the faith to begin again.
"A sound mind makes for a robust body, but runaway emotions corrode the bones." -Proverbs 14:30 (MSG)
We tend to live by emotion in our culture. "Just do what feels right," seems to be the general norm. Many of our thoughts about right and wrong are based on our emotions, on what we perceive is right, or wrong.
When someone hurts us, we stand on the perceived reality that they "hurt our feelings." Sometimes we imply a motive behind others' actions which causes us to wrongfully judge them instead of asking about their intentions. We fail to employ discernment to see if the wound had a deeper root from something from our own past or even theirs. And then, we often do not do the even deeper work to discover and let God restore and heal what's broken through the power of forgiveness.
Faith, although a substance like emotion, is different from emotion. Faith comes as a response to God's words that knows that what the Bible says is true. It is a response to situations which says, "My God is in control."
When we live by emotion, it's like our faith hasn't fully taken root in our hearts. It hasn't yet extended to those situations that make us upset. Jesus described it in this way: "The seed cast in the gravel - this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it." -Matthew 13:20
Character is what we do when no one else is looking. It's also what we do in the midst of challenge. Do we bend and fold, or are we able to stand strong on the foundation of our faith? Living by faith ensures a firm foundation. Although it is natural to feel emotion, we should not make decisions based on our emotion. We should make them based on our faith.
"The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." -Matthew 7:25
Let us be like the house on that firm foundation of faith, as we place our faith and trust in God with whatever difficulties come our way - no matter how we feel.
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." -1 Peter 4:9-11
What is your gift? The Bible calls us to use the gifts that God has given us to serve others and to minister to Him. The Bible also says His gifts and His call are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29) Through the discovery of our gifts, we can bless others through the "various forms of grace" that God has given to us.
"...so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach..." -Romans 12:5-7
Often we may not know what our gifts are. There are many great self-assessments and tools you can use that will help you discover your gifts and talents. One I have taken is The Call. Sometimes a leader or friend can see your gifts in you. There are many spiritual gifts which include prophecy, teaching, healing, helping, discernment, and miracles, but also "natural" gifts that God has given as well. (See 1 Corinthians 12:27-29)
Sometimes, we might be in a place where we're afraid to use our gifts and talents. Nonetheless, God instructs us to. Sometimes we might think another person has a greater gift than us, so we are ashamed of our gift. But God doesn't feel that way about it. He gave us our gifts for a reason. He had a purpose in mind. There is no hierarchy in gifts, and in order to operate as Christ's body, everything must be working! God will give us grace for the things He's called us to.
We should use the gifts God has given us so we can be a blessing to others. But we will also find that when we serve in alignment with the way God has gifted us, we will experience joy as a result, because we are being used by God in the ways that He created us. In this, we discover our purpose to be uniquely used by Him to further His kingdom.
Are you using your gifts?
