Read: Proverbs 24:16 & Philippians 2:13
In 1995, I left England for a new life in America. Everyone thought I was searching for adventure, but I was really searching for a do-over. My young life was already filled with too many mistakes, too many broken dreams, too many relational bridges burned. Starting over seemed like the easiest thing to do. It was a journey that eventually led me to Christ.
As Christians, we often limit the joy of “new beginnings” to being born again—that time when we go from dead in our sins to alive with Christ in righteousness. A key to staying faithful over the course of time, however, involves daily refreshing.
We face a choice every time we fall short of God’s holy standard in word, thought and deed. Either we can count ourselves victorious in Christ or we can agree with Satan’s lies that sin is no big deal and we’re only loved by God if we perform well. If you choose Satan’s path, your joy and intimacy with Christ will dwindle and your walk with God will go in reverse.
Our culture is filled with stories of resurrection, because God hard-wired our hearts to respond to the story of resurrection. Our culture has twisted “renewal” into a parody of grace. The world glorifies the triumph of the human will by trying harder, ignoring our guilt and sin altogether, or just starting over as someone else. As believers, we trust and obey Christ the best we know how. We abide in His love and rest in His finished work on the cross as He continues His work in us.
