2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (NRSV)
For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NRSV)
AS I sit in my office and look out the window, I can see green plants sprouting up from the soil. Spring is coming; winter is almost gone. New life is becoming visible as green plants rise from seeds that have lain dormant through the cold winter months. It seemed as if the seeds were dead, but now it is abundantly clear that the promise of life was there.
I remember periods when my life lay dormant through times of coldness brought about by the many mistakes I have made. I may have appeared to others as someone spiritually dead. But God, the author of new life, knew the promise of life was still there.
New beginnings come into our lives when we let God's light shine in. God brings us back to life with the power of reconciliation. God forgives our transgressions and allows us to rise above the cold world of sin. Praise God for new life!
Prayer: Loving God, we thank you for the promise of new life with you. We thank you for providing us with new beginnings in our lives so that we can rise above the life of sin. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God offers each of us opportunities for new life.
PRAYER FOCUS:
Someone seeking a new beginning
By B. J. Woods, Texas
