The Newness of Life -Christian Devotional from the Master's Table and Barbara's heart

The Newness of Life
Weekly devotional by Barbara Sanders

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

What a site to behold when a new baby arrives at your house!! And such a newness of life that you can hardly comprehend. A baby is so complex - the baby is an independent being, yet very dependent on it's caretakers for it's well being - it's growth. It doesn't know to be quiet, so it makes itself heard from crying, when hungry or wet or sick, or perhaps just because it doesn't know what life is all about at the time.

There's another 'newness of life' like a new born baby. It's being 'born again' through the grace of God, by faith. When you enter into this 'new life' with the Lord, you are to be a new creature.

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

New creatures have stages that they must go through, just like the new baby, in order to grow. You begin by giving your whole life over to the Lord, leaning on Him for your needs, and letting the Holy Spirit teach you through the Word, which you need to read every day. The Word is not understood by the ungenerated human being, but by one who has the Spirit of God within him/her. Also meditating in the Word keeps it near your heart, whenever you need to use it to combat the adversary, the devil.

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Just as parents are equipped to be the caregivers to the infant, so is the WORD equipped for everything you will ever need in your life. But, unlike the infant, who is unable to fiend for his or her own, you must read the Word, get it deep within you, and keep reading/meditating, so it will not leave you. It's like a test that a student is having at school - if you don't study, then you don't know what is there, and you will fail.

Parents are to be caregivers until a child reaches the age where they are able to live on their own. They are to build them up in their knowledge of things in life, both lifegiving and 'life saving'. This life-saving technique is for both the child living on earth, and for the eternal life. There is a place each of us will live eternally - it will be either with the Lord or with the adversary. Just as a child is easily swayed by peers and siblings, you must guard against the very same thing in adult life. It's easy to get caught up in things of the world, not realizing they are dragging you down a path of destruction, towards a life without God - and of eternal damnation.

But there is a way out - 'newness of life' .... becoming a 'new creature' now, and waiting for a 'new body' in the coming resurrection with Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1 Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

The next time you see a new born baby, with those little fingers and hands reaching out, remember he or she is unable to take care of themselves. They are reaching for what they feel or hear that is before them - they have their faith placed in the parent or caregiver. But you have a choice - you can choose to put your trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the best caregiver of all, or you can follow your own ways. Which will it be?

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son that you sent that we might be saved, to spend eternity with you. Thank you for trusting that we would come to you for our salvation and turn away from the things in the world that separate us from you as our Father. Our parents have given us life, the material things that we need, and love, and perhaps support - if needed. But let us realize that only YOU are able to give us the 'newness of life' that we must obtain in order to live with you eternally. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.