New Life in Christ
Titus 2:11-14 (NLT)
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
Temptation is always lurking; the devil in disguise, trying to get us to deny and defy Christ. Social media and the internet can make it so easy to stray from our godly intentions. It sometimes takes intentional work to say “No” to the things of this world, and to say “Yes” to God’s ways.
When I turn my head or divert my eyes from the man with the sign asking for help, does Jesus nod understandingly? When I pay all my bills before giving my 1st fruits to God, does He understand and smile?
The more I pray for people and situations, the more I pray with people, the closer God feels and the more I feel Him smiling. Anytime I’m in prayer or being God’s hands is the time I’m giving Satan a mighty migraine, as my pastor encourages us to do every Sun in his benediction.
New life in Christ is often represented by a butterfly. There’s just something inspiring about that cycle of life.
Our lives often follow a similar cycle. We begin as an egg in the womb, born as an innocent being, then grow and are affected by the world.
But, thanks be to God, we can be born again, and start a new life. Does it mean we won’t be affected by the world? No, but we are now in the world, not of the world.
A new year, a new life, both in Christ. This is my prayer for you.
Prayer: Father, show me where I can be your light. Show me to see with the eyes of my heart. Help me to see you in unexpected places, because, after all, you’re everywhere. Help me love too much to give space for hate. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
When I turn my head or divert my eyes from the man with the sign asking for help, does Jesus nod understandingly? When I pay all my bills before giving my 1st fruits to God, does He understand and smile?
The more I pray for people and situations, the more I pray with people, the closer God feels and the more I feel Him smiling. Anytime I’m in prayer or being God’s hands is the time I’m giving Satan a mighty migraine, as my pastor encourages us to do every Sun in his benediction.
New life in Christ is often represented by a butterfly. There’s just something inspiring about that cycle of life.
Our lives often follow a similar cycle. We begin as an egg in the womb, born as an innocent being, then grow and are affected by the world.
But, thanks be to God, we can be born again, and start a new life. Does it mean we won’t be affected by the world? No, but we are now in the world, not of the world.
A new year, a new life, both in Christ. This is my prayer for you.
Prayer: Father, show me where I can be your light. Show me to see with the eyes of my heart. Help me to see you in unexpected places, because, after all, you’re everywhere. Help me love too much to give space for hate. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.
Denver Drake, Gassaway UMC, Gassaway, WV dedrake15@gmail.com, Lay Leader, Wesleyan-Greenbrier LEAD Team member
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