Two of the best known passages that explain what a new Christian life is like are:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:1-2
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" - 2 Corinthians 5:17
Obviously this is not the whole story. Now that I have been a Christian for some time I know that God continues to work in my life and that there are always areas that need to be changed. Maybe that is why the picture of a new beginning is so important.
We can and should have lots of new beginnings along our spiritual journey, shouldn't we? God is never done with us and we are always ripe for another new beginning in our lives. So, when those opportunities come, it matters how we see them.
A new beginning is a new chance for grace, forgiveness and the Holy Spirit's hand in our lives.
A defeat is another chance for guilt, shame and self-loathing.
How does this work for you? When God opens your eyes to a new lesson or a new insight, to convict you of some sin, whether you were aware of it or not, or to challenge you to move forward in doing something good, do you see it as an opportunity for a new beginning or another example of defeat?
Which is more prevalent in your life? Do you need another new beginning?
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This is an interesting concept. I had thought that, as a general rule, we have one beginning and then a growing process? Don't like to be negative,however at times as we look at the lifestyle of some of our people, does seem that a new beginning is in order.Considering the scriptures above,to achieve the level required..suppose we often need new beginnings.
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