A New Life
by Malcolm Wood
When I was a boy, I used to try and guess what people must have received for Christmas. Perhaps I would see a boy riding a new bike, a girl proudly holding a new doll, an elderly man wearing a new hat, or a lady with a new pair of gloves. Usually, it was obvious, because people like receiving and using new things and are happy to let others know they have something new.
I wonder whether it is true with our spiritual life. The bible says that, when we accept Christ as our Saviour, we are born again and become a new creation. Our spirit becomes alive to God. Is that new life in us as evident for others to see as wearing the new scarf we had for Christmas? This new life remains new because it is eternal life. Our bodies grow old, but not our spirits. So, however old we are, the evidence of the new life should be apparent in us.
Many years ago, I heard a talk which highlighted three things which are evidence of new life. It took three incidents in the Bible of people who were brought back to life.
‘A desire for food’ is the evidence of new life in the story of the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead (Mark 5:21-43). Jesus raised the girl to life and then told her parents to give her something to eat. A good appetite is definitely a sign of life. How is our appetite for the things of God and particularly His Word?
‘A willingness to testify’ is the second evidence of new life. When Jesus raised to life the widow of Nain’s son, the boy sat up and began to talk to those around him (Luke 7:15). What a story he had to tell, and so do we!
Thirdly, the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead reminds us that, when we receive that new life from Christ, there are often things from our past life which still affect our walk with Jesus, and which have to be removed (John 11). We read that, when Lazarus came out of the tomb, he was still bound in the graveclothes. Jesus told them to, “Loose him, and let him go.” The evidence of having new life within us is getting rid of those old graveclothes so we can enjoy all the blessings of freedom in our new life of following Jesus.
As we each continue our journey with the Lord, may we all, with the help of the Holy Spirit, be able to display these and other attributes of the new life, which is to be found in Jesus.
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help me to be able to show that I have Your new life within me. By Your Spirit, please give me a real hunger for Your word, a desire to tell others about You and a walk that is unhindered by old grave clothes. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
