We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. ~Romans 6:4
The Lord is speaking to you—“You too may live a new life.” The enemy wants to keep you in a straight jacket, but that’s a lie. The enemy wants you to believe that you can’t change or that the nation is a hopeless cause, but that’s yesterday’s stale bread. The scripture says the Lord’s “mercies are new every morning.” He provides everything we need for success in him.
Have you ever gone to sleep in a slump? Maybe your rotten attitude was hitting record lows, but when you woke up, it was like the fog had evaporated, the sun was shining, and there was a fresh new start. You don’t have to let yesterday’s rigor mortis lock you up today. You’re allowed to start paying attention to different details, reacting in novel ways, making original choices, trying on new clothing, learning a new skill set, investing in a new kind of relationship, and instigating new beginnings.
God has given us access to a “new life” in Jesus. It is full of hope and joy, and freedom from sin. Don’t let the enemy swindle you for less. God’s new life is full of God’s promises and God’s goodness. Will it be easy to live in that? Of course not. But it will be different, and that is God’s guarantee.
“The old has gone the new has come,” he says. That means we are not under the scrutiny of yesterday’s nay-sayers. God declares we “go from glory to glory.” That means we aren’t sinking deeper into darkness, but we are arising into his light. “Behold, I make all things new.” That means God is actively partnering with us to bend the world back to freedom in him.
Just as the forest fire renews the mountains, so our death in Christ clears out the old dead wood and cumbersome canopy. Just as the winter wood bursts into bud again, so we can be sure God has a resurgence of life flowing through those who choose him. This Easter, don’t be discouraged. God loves his good world. Yes, it is heavy under the weight of sin. Yes, there are sure to be terrible sufferings ahead. But these are nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. He is doing his best work. And his work will not be devoured by the fire, it will be refined by it.
Tags: resurrection, hope, strength, change, future, glory, success, new life, new beginnings, mercies, romans 6:4
