Give ThanksSample

Give Thanks for a New Nature

Have you ever heard Christians call themselves “born-again believers?” It might sound odd to some, but the natural and wonderful phenomenon of bringing new life into the world is used throughout Scripture to describe salvation. In the book of John, Jesus uses the idea of rebirth in a conversation with a man named Nicodemus. He tells Nicodemus that he must be born again to receive eternal life. Nicodemus can’t imagine how he—a full-grown man—is meant to return to his mother’s womb and be reborn. He is totally confounded by Jesus’s words. Of course, Jesus doesn’t mean for anyone who comes to him for salvation to literally be reborn. What he’s trying to teach Nicodemus (and us) is that salvation through Him is like being born to new life.

When we receive Christ’s forgiveness and salvation, we are no longer the people we were before He redeemed us. When we accept Christ, God’s nature is reborn in us. From the beginning, God intended for His human creation to have His nature, but the enemy came and cunningly caused humanity to turn away from God. What Christ’s sacrifice did was make it possible for broken people to accept a new nature and God’s divine life.

Imagine this: you’re out to eat at a restaurant and you notice there’s a bug in your salad. Naturally, you let your server know and request a new salad. Well, what if your server came back and told you that they removed the bug, rinsed off the lettuce, added a few new croutons, and now it’s as good as new? You’d probably be appalled. Your expectation was that they would serve you a whole new salad. That unappetizing illustration helps us see the difference between human forgiveness and the forgiveness that God gives that makes us new! That’s the forgiveness we give thanks for as Christians: a forgiveness that makes us new!

Thought of the Day: Just like 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells me, I am a new creation in Christ. Today, I give thanks for the new life I have received through God’s generous forgiveness and love. He has made me new, and He is continuing to transform me into the likeness of His Son.

This devotional plan was based on the first chapter of the book Give Thanks, which is part of the Sermon-in-Print Series. To learn more about LaDonna C. Osborn’s ministry, please click here.