A FRESH START
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
1 Peter 1:3-4 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus we have been given a fresh start.
When I type the phrase, “Fresh Start,” into my computer I get sponsored sites about IRS Fresh Start program. There are also a lot of sites for defaulted loans and student loans. There are links to local ministries who use the words in their web addresses. There are helps about anything from financial issues to relational issues to health issues. Evidently a lot of people are wanting a fresh start.
Jesus came to earth to give humanity a fresh start. Regardless of our past sins and failures Jesus came so we could be “born again.” We were born once by the flesh and then we are “born again” by the Spirit.
In John 3 Jesus talked to Nicodemus about the importance of being “born again.” Nicodemus asked how it was possible to be born again and Jesus told him there was a difference between being born of the flesh and being born of the Spirit.
When we are “born again” of the Spirit we are cleansed and made whole. We are made new in the eyes of God. The old sins are washed away, and we are a “new creation” in Christ.
That means we have a fresh start. We get a “do over.” God’s mercy and grace extend a clean slate for us to start life fresh and new without the baggage of past failures.
I believe God’s grace cleanses our failures and gives them new purpose. What used to be our shame and disgrace becomes examples of God’s grace. God uses those past failures as testimonies to His ability to redeem and restore.
Every day God gives us a fresh start. Let’s choose to use our fresh start as a testimony of His incredible grace and mercy.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit, I thank You for grace and mercy. Help my life to be a testimony for You.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
Lord thank you for our fresh start and a new chance everyday .