WEDNESDAY'S WORD - NEW - Sadell Bradley - 06/19/19 - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

   

"Move out of your comfort zone, You can only grow if you're willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new." - Brian Tracy  - Author & Speaker 

 

NEW is word that has been marginalized to purchasing and acquisitions, "I just got a 'new' house or car." We rarely consider the full scope of this word. NEW means not existing before; made, introduced or recently discovered for the first time; not previously used or owned. NEW can also imply that something already exists, but is seen, or experienced for the first time; it's unfamiliar or strange. NEW could be an addition/or qualitative innovation to something that exists. NEW might denote that something has been reinvigorated or restored and is now regarded as better than what went before. These definitions bring illumination to the breadth of possibility in the LORD's self-descriptive statement, "Behold, I make all things new." (Rev. 21:5)

 

The Apostle Peter described the Day of the LORD's return in 2 Peter 3:10-13. "But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness 12as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with God's promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." Artists have tried to depict this, but it's important to understand that sometimes, what is new only comes after what is old has been thoroughly destroyed. Why? 

 

Because what is old and what is new are at times incompatible.  Jesus' Messianic rule brought upheaval to both the religious systems of the day and to the lives of individuals, "16 No one sews a patch of unshrunk (new) cloth on an old garment. For the patch will pull away from the garment, and a worse tear will result.17Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined. Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved." (Matt. 9:16-17) Referencing our salvation from sin, we are told that, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become NEW." (2 Cor. 5:17) We struggle when we try to mix old mindsets, perspectives, ways, values or habits in with the NEW thing God is bringing to our lives. Are you engaging a new season or opportunity in old and negative ways?  Changing to something new can be difficult. Former Navy Seal and ultra-triathlete David Goggins said, "You have to be willing to go to war with yourself to create a new identity."  Making the adjustments to be ready for a new thing can be very rewarding.