Good morning!
You are aware that for many, this is one of the most stressful times of the year – first world stressful, manmade stressful, Satan’s hand in it stressful. When I look back, I can see so much brokenness in my past. I am not suggesting you will see the same thing. But in all this rambling about stress, meltdowns and brokenness there is so much hope, so much good news. New birth, new life, transformation…
This quote comes from a devotional I have lost track of but is pulling from John 12:24 :
“Never be afraid of being a broken thing … Unless a seed breaks, there is no life. – No new life, no rebirth, no transformation happens without being broken first. When you’re in over your head stressed, you can touch the depths of God.”
Coming up to Christmas, I spend a lot of time thinking about the amazing birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – what sweet thoughts these can be. This year was no exception. However, we know the story does not stop here. AND that is really good news for each of us. For Jesus Christ in His incarnate birth as a man, came so that each of us could have rebirth, bringing us into His loving presence, made possible through His death and resurrection – and for us this makes possible, out of our brokenness, God’s transformation of us and our brokenness for His good purposes (see Romans 8:28 referenced below).
The birth of Jesus Christ reminds all of us that we have a Savior, we have Hope, we have Good News. Additionally, in that belief, choosing the path to follow Christ, allows God to take our broken lives, our weariness, using it as a tool to create beauty that shines the Light into the world.
We are promised by God that we are reborn, a new creation. Without our brokenness as used through Christ there is no newness.
So as the quote above suggests (and as Jesus spoke in John 12:24), let’s remember God is in all things, allowing our lives to glorify him – in our lives trials it is possible to get a sense of God’s depth – His amazing love for us. This thought points me to remember Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
As we transition from Christmas into the new year it seems perfect to reflect on the miracle of rebirth, new life, transformation at the hands of God through the Holy Spirit…not our work but God’s work if we let Him…
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us this weekend and as the new year starts is that we remember that as the calendar page is turned, we, each of us, remember the truth of God’s hand in our rebirth, that we are new creations in You, Christ Jesus…! Amen!
Happy New Year! Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
You are aware that for many, this is one of the most stressful times of the year – first world stressful, manmade stressful, Satan’s hand in it stressful. When I look back, I can see so much brokenness in my past. I am not suggesting you will see the same thing. But in all this rambling about stress, meltdowns and brokenness there is so much hope, so much good news. New birth, new life, transformation…
This quote comes from a devotional I have lost track of but is pulling from John 12:24 :
“Never be afraid of being a broken thing … Unless a seed breaks, there is no life. – No new life, no rebirth, no transformation happens without being broken first. When you’re in over your head stressed, you can touch the depths of God.”
- John 12:23-25 - 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
- Ephesians 4:24 “… and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
- John 3:3 ‘Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”’
- 1 Peter 1:3-5 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Coming up to Christmas, I spend a lot of time thinking about the amazing birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – what sweet thoughts these can be. This year was no exception. However, we know the story does not stop here. AND that is really good news for each of us. For Jesus Christ in His incarnate birth as a man, came so that each of us could have rebirth, bringing us into His loving presence, made possible through His death and resurrection – and for us this makes possible, out of our brokenness, God’s transformation of us and our brokenness for His good purposes (see Romans 8:28 referenced below).
The birth of Jesus Christ reminds all of us that we have a Savior, we have Hope, we have Good News. Additionally, in that belief, choosing the path to follow Christ, allows God to take our broken lives, our weariness, using it as a tool to create beauty that shines the Light into the world.
We are promised by God that we are reborn, a new creation. Without our brokenness as used through Christ there is no newness.
So as the quote above suggests (and as Jesus spoke in John 12:24), let’s remember God is in all things, allowing our lives to glorify him – in our lives trials it is possible to get a sense of God’s depth – His amazing love for us. This thought points me to remember Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
As we transition from Christmas into the new year it seems perfect to reflect on the miracle of rebirth, new life, transformation at the hands of God through the Holy Spirit…not our work but God’s work if we let Him…
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us this weekend and as the new year starts is that we remember that as the calendar page is turned, we, each of us, remember the truth of God’s hand in our rebirth, that we are new creations in You, Christ Jesus…! Amen!
Happy New Year! Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
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