Romans 8: 12-16 The Message 12-14 So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!
15-17 This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!
While I am reading today’s Scripture my mind is jumping all over the place regarding what to share. I chose The Message version of this Scripture because of the words – they feel like words I would use, they speak so clearly to me that my thoughts are running rampant with ideas.
First, I am so in love with verses 12-14 “So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!”
Think about that! Giving your old self a burial and getting on with your new life! How can we go through life carrying so much baggage with us? It’s time to cut the ties to our baggage and get on with our new life. God has forgiven us for our transgressions so why do we continue to hold ourselves accountable for our mistakes? We have NEW life! We have new opportunities to explore, we have new ground to cover, we have excitement, adventure and a joyful existence in store for us! So let’s start there! How about joining me in an exercise today… Let’s write an obituary for the person we were – a physical way of disconnecting from the past. It’s my reminder, the past is gone, I don’t answer to that person anymore, and my new life awaits. And it’s a glorious life!
Remember: You cannot start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one!
Next, “This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.”
Now is the time to be bold, to be adventurous and expectant. To REALLY experience life! Maybe we procrastinate, or maybe we’re lazy, or maybe we don’t think that what God has planned is going to be exciting enough, or maybe we’re afraid that it’s going to be too exciting and might push us out of our comfort zone. But can you imagine the possibilities? Close your eyes and work your imagination…. What could you do if you weren't afraid of leaving your front doorstep, not being prepared, feeling inadequate, making eye contact with a stranger? If there was no fear in your life would you explore a new place in the city? Would you travel more? Would you join a club where you didn’t know anyone yet? Would you take up a new hobby? Would you go skydiving? When we’re not afraid to take those types of risks, God is able to use us in ways we can’t imagine – That new place in the city might be feeding homeless in the park, the travelling might be to a mission field in Africa, that club might open social opportunities to share your testimony to someone going through a similar struggle, that hobby might be knitting and now that you are knitting, you can visit a nursing home and sit and knit and talk with the elderly, going skydiving may be the opportunity to pray for everyone that’s jumping who might be afraid and prayer might be just what they need.
When we’re obedient and we use our gifts and we rely on God to be in control, these situations we were once afraid to explore can end up being the most amazing times of our lives. We may not see it at first (that’s the flesh talking!), but when we surrender our ways and go with God, we are so abundantly blessed and we GET the opportunity to bless others, to share the “secret to a happy life” – GOD.
Lastly, there isn't anything here saying our new life is going to be easy! But “If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!” And don’t you know that the Good Times with God are the Best Times we can ever experience? Life will not be dull when we surrender it to Him fully and are open to really living for Him. Be bold friends.
Abba, Father, thank You for every day of life. Thank You for giving us another chance to live life with You. Please grant us boldness to go out into the world in our new selves and live the life You have gifted us. Nothing to hold us back, no more restraints on ourselves, we live for You. I love you Papa. Amen
Toni