OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...

DATE : TUESDAY 10 MAY 2016

THEME :  NEW LIFE IN CHRIST 

Memorise:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2ndCorinthians 5:17

Read; 1st Corinthians 6:9-11

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Message

Speaking about a ‘new life’ is an indication that there has been an old one. In Christianity, when we speak of the ‘old life’, we mean a combination of the philosophy of life and worldview that controls the lifestyle and behaviour of a person that is not born again. The new life in Christ however, is the new way of thinking and doing things in accordance with the Bible that we have come to be acquainted with since we became born again. Several passages of the Bible focus on issues concerning the old and new life in order to help Christians identify the sources of their thoughts and actions, whether they are remnants of the old evil ways or from the new life in Christ. Galatians 2:20 says:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

The book of Galatians devoted much effort to explanations on the old and new life, but what the above passage says about the old life and the new is golden. It simply says that when a person accepts Jesus as Lord and Saviour, he automatically becomes dead to the old life, and communication with the old life becomes cut off. Everything about the thought process, interest, tastes, sensibilities, and the will becomes inaccessible to the former system of control. The old password simply refuses to work because the access code has been changed. This event effectively marks the end on an era called ‘the old life’, and the beginning of the new life in Jesus. 2nd Corinthians 5:17 says;

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

At this point, everything about the life we lived before we met Jesus ceases. The control of our lives now shifts back to the original source, to the One who gave us this free gift of new life. We naturally begin to hunger for righteousness by pursuing purity, honesty, justice, unselfishness, love, humility, and service to humanity. The Bible makes it clear that becoming a Christian is much more than adopting a new philosophy of life. When a person becomes a Christian through the right process, all phases of life are renewed. It starts from a new mind; you instantly begin to think differently from the old ways, to the extent that you actually become surprised at your new self. You suddenly develop a new standard and you begin to measure everything you do in line with the Bible. The new life in Christ also comes with a new hope of abundant life here on earth and eternal life in heaven. People may equate hope with wishful thinking, but real hope is based on the authority of the one offering it. God is faithful and dependable. You can count on Him for a new life in Christ.   

Prayer Point:

Father, please let the new life You gave me be refreshed every day of my life in the Name of Jesus. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 2 Kings 8:25-10:17 and Proverbs 22:13-28

AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

1. Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2. Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.