Behold, I will Do A New Thing

A New year has begun.  Many people have celebrated the coming of this new year with the company of family and close friends on the eve of its arrival.  Others have rushed to the stores (the shops or online) to search for special bargains that celebrate the arrival of this new year.  Yet others are anxiously waiting for the new thing that God will present to them in this new year.

Many years ago, God sent a message, through the prophet Isaiah, to Israel (Isaiah 43).  He presented a message of comfort and restoration for the future of Israel ... even when they did not deserve it.  God assured them of their redemption (deliverance through a payment), protection from harm, His creation of them for His glory, and being with them.  He had previously demonstrated both His power and love for them through the process of destroying Egypt for the cost of their lives; which yielded their freedom.  Yet, that deliverance was small in comparison to the redemption that God had in store for them.  "Behold, I will do a new thing", says God.  For their coming redemption (deliverance from the bondage of sin) would be accomplished through the work of Christ Jesus, His beloved Son. 

Many years later, Christ Jesus came into the world and not only redeemed Israel, but also all those who believed in Him.  He paid the cost by dying in the place of Israel and people who held sin; He set them free.  Through Christ Jesus, everyone who now believed in Him was delivered from the bondage of sin, but also held the opportunity to become a new creation ... "old things have passed away; behold all things have become new."  (2 Corinthians 5).  As it was true in days of old, redemption through Christ Jesus also holds true for everyone today.  I encourage you to choose this day as the day of your deliverance.  Open up your heart, and allow Christ Jesus to come into Your life and transform your inner-most being; receive His gift of redemption and peace ... and you will be free.

Let us pray:  God, You Who are great and grand, I thank You for having delivered me from the bondage of sin by means of Your Son, Christ Jesus.  I ask of You today, for this coming year, to help me bring into restoration and renewal my relationship with You.  Please assist me to serve You well as Your Spirit both comforts and empowers me to do so.  In Jesus name I pray ... Amen.