Staying New

There is something fascinating about "new."

Whether it's a kid with a new toy, an adult with a new car, a college grad moving to a new town, or parents expecting a new baby...

...from trying new food to a new job...

...from a new hairdo to a new house...

With anything new there's a mix of emotions involved -- a thrill of anticipation, a chill of fear, a surge of happiness, a rush of excitement, a sense of wonder.

Each new thing has these emotions in varying degrees, but even a simple new thing brings at least a small measure of emotional energy.  This is the first common thread among "newness."

What is the other common thread?

Think about it.  What happens after some time passes?  Does something that is new stay new?

By its very definition, something that's new cannot remain new.  The new wears off and it becomes familiar.  And the emotions tend to fade along with the newness.

At a glance, this is no different with the Christian experience. 

As a new believer in Christ, after realizing who I am and who God is and putting my faith in Him alone, I was so excited and “on fire for God” as the expression goes.  I had such a thirst for knowledge and such a passion for growing in faith and following God.

But then that wore off.  The routines and busyness of life set in and crowded out all that energy and zeal.  And now sometimes God is just part of the routine, and sometimes I just ignore Him because I get too busy, or because it seems like too much work.

Every so often there is a spark of renewal – brought on by a retreat, a touching sermon, a deep discussion at bible study… but then the kindling for that burns out as well.

But that is not how it should be for those following the God that the Bible presents. 

The God of the Bible is about more than just a ticket into heaven -– yes, if you repent and believe in Him you will be guaranteed to go to heaven, but God wants to give you more than that –- He wants to see your life changed, renewed, on this side of heaven.

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” 

The apostle Paul wrote, “So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”  (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Every day is an opportunity for an adventure with God.  Something new to learn, a way to grow, a chance to share His love.  If I could wake up in the morning and have this attitude, and ask God to guide me and be mindful of Him through the day, I would never be bored from the ordinary, nor overwhelmed by the busyness.  Rather, I would be "staying new". 

Staying new –- it may seem like an oxymoron, but with God all things are possible.  And He is all about making things new.

In fact, as a Christian I am called to "put on the new self" (Colossians 3:1).  God has made me new, and that is more than just a one time deal; it is an ongoing process.  Each new day is a chance to be renewed -- as long as I "stay new" by abiding in Christ.

Linking with http://katemotaung.com/2014/10/02/five-minute-friday-and-a-giveaway-day-3-new/ for five minute friday (although with this I believe I went a bit beyond five minutes... I was on such a roll!)