Sunday, March 31, 2013

THE NEW OF US

Today is a world-wide recognition that Jesus arose from the tomb.

What a day!  What an event!  What a glorious truth!

When Jesus broke the bonds of the grave he ruined death.  It is no longer a voice whispering in the wings that it will get us.  Nope.

When we meet Jesus in baptism's grave---Romans 6:3-5---we meet Jesus (raised from the waters) in the air to soar the resurrection kind of flight.  We are new.

We are new. 

We are a new kind, a new sort, a new disposition, a new frame-work, and a new complete hope!

I know of many who have been baptized; yet seemed to remain old.  Nothing changed except church attendance.  I yearn for us to experience a new kind of Life in a new kind of Kingdom with a new perspective of what it means to be new.

The Bible says we are new day by day.  We should be.  That's the mark of growth.  In first grade did we not learn new things? How to read, to write, to add?  New is maturity.  In 11th grade were we still trying to pronounce "L-o-o-k" as when in the first grade?  Was the teacher still inquiring, What is 2 + 2 class? 

One of the facets of newness in Christ is we are always learning new things about God and about life.  Many have assumed newness in Jesus meant start going to church now.  That's a good start; yet, there is abundantly more to be experienced.

It is a new approach to life.  We learn--mature--to understand that being a follower of God does not mean everything goes well in life and my team wins all of the ballgames.  It means we know how to manage both the good days as well as the bad ones.  We learn how to deal with enemies as if they were friends.

In God, everything changes.  We are newer day by day.  As we age we don't play it safer.  We grow more courageous.  Life is worth living!

See it.  Believe it.  Do it.  The new us....dare to be wowed!

No comments: