Oct 17 ~ THE NEW LIFE SHOULD NEVER GET OLD:  SALVATION, A CONTINUOUS TRANSFORMATION

James 4:8 “Draw nigh to Go, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Notice the word “NIGH” in the text, which means NEAR. As Christians, we are united with Christ by our faith.  But sin creates a barrier which fractures our relationship with Him.  If ignored, sin will ultimately remove us from our relationship with God, as stated in Romans 8:13; “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:  but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”  Saints, as we repent and remain faithful in Christ, may we keep our hearts pure, maintain a life of consecration to Him with the confession of our sins and separate ourselves from the world.  We thank you Lord for your grace, mercy, and the unconditional love you show us, though we are not worthy; continue working and cleansing us, for we are nothing without you!

Aaron Manning

Oct 16 ~ THE NEW LIFE SHOULD NEVER GET OLD:  ABOVE AVERAGE

Romans 6:13 “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

Have you ever found yourself wanting to blend in with the rest of the crowd because that is the simpler and easier option at the moment?  When we walk with God, this is not an option because we have to live, act, and think differently from the crowd.   As an educator, many things that others do in the public eye, I cannot, and as saints we also have to keep the same mindset.  Although it may seem easy to just want to blend in with what everyone is doing, even if for just a moment, remember that you have a choice to let your light shine before men.  Making the right choice is not always easy, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  

Crystal Forte

Oct 15 ~ THE NEW LIFE SHOULD NEVER GET OLD: FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH

Romans 6:12 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

As Christians, we are dead to sin and alive to Christ.  Paul encourages all believers to take this important truth and expect it to be so.  Be dead to sin and be alive in Christ Jesus!  Stay on course with God by continuing to fast, pray and read your Word daily.  God leads us to righteousness!

Dalikia Shields

Oct 14 ~ THE NEW LIFE SHOULD NEVER GET OLD: NOT WHAT I USED TO BE

Romans 6:11 “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

We are to strive to be like Christ who took on sin that we could have eternal life through Him.  We must deny our flesh and all worldly influences so that we can live the life that God intended for us.  I was lost, living in a sinful state, but one day I found out there was only one way to God.  I found out that I could have eternal life by repenting of my sins, being buried in that liquid grave in Jesus’ name, and receiving the power of the Holy Ghost.  My life changed forever and I am no longer bound, but free to live, and to live again. 

Sharon Ervin

Oct 13 ~ THE NEW LIFE SHOULD NEVER GET OLD: ALL THINGS NEW

Romans 6:8 “Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:”

”Behold all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17)!  According to Romans 6:8, Christ died unto sin once and likewise, we should be dead also unto sin, but alive unto Christ Jesus. The old life is buried and in our new life we have a new walk, new talk, new heart, and a new mind!  But as we face oppositions on this journey, we must study and obey God’s Word to keep the new life from going back to the old again. So remember, in order to keep the NEW man alive, we must keep the OLD man buried.

Rita Watkins

Oct 12 ~ THE NEW LIFE SHOULD NEVER GET OLD: DEAD, BUT YET I LIVE! 

Romans 6:7 “For he that is dead is freed from sin.”  

Over 41 years ago, I lived a life that was not pleasing unto God-a life full of sin. Once I repented and was baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, my sins were buried with Him. When you bury something it’s usually dead, and that burial freed me from my sins.  Romans 6:11 tells us, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” All who follow His burial shall be in the likeness of his death and in the likeness of his resurrection.      

Yvette Edwards

Oct 11 ~ THE NEW LIFE SHOULD NEVER GET OLD: MAINTAINING WHAT YOU HAVE OBTAINED

Romans 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

As saints of God, we have received new life and this new life must be cultivated through prayer, fasting, studying the Word, and yielding to the preached Word of God from the one sent. Daily, we must utilize the tools that God has given us in order to maintain this new life. These tools are important because Satan constantly seeks the opportunity for us to obey sin. So today, rise and shine because NEW LIFE has come!  We are living this life to live again in a land where we shall never grow old!

William Seldon

Oct 10 ~ THE NEW LIFE SHOULD NEVER GET OLD: WE HAVE HOPE FOR A BETTER DAY

Romans 6:4 “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

So often when trouble comes in our lives, we look at the trouble when we should be looking through the trouble.  When we look at trouble, we feel stress, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, fear, and sometimes we even lose hope.  As children of God, we have been taught to trust God and what He said in His Word. Therefore, when we face trouble, reach back and grab hold of God’s Word and put His Word like a shield between you and the trouble. Speak to the trouble and say God said, “We should walk in newness of life” and because He said it, we have hope for a better day.

Sharon Hardie

Oct 9 ~ THE NEW LIFE SHOULD NEVER GET OLD: RELEASED FOR BENEFITS

Romans 7:4 “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”

Romans 7:4 reminds us of our release from the law and motions of sins.  The New International Version states in the latter clause of this verse “in order that we might bear fruit for God!” As you go through the days to come, constantly remind yourself that you were released from sin, through salvation, to bear fruit for the Creator of the universe. You are a chosen vessel of God to help someone who has yet to understand the benefits of being released from the ways of sin.  So today, testify of the benefits of your release in expectation of someone else to receive a release! 

Dewayne Marquel Jones

Oct 8 ~ THE NEW LIFE SHOULD NEVER GET OLD: A NEW ME IN CHRIST

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

When you walk with Christ, you are walking in the newness of life. You must allow your faith in God to be bigger than scars of your past and not allow what hurt you to hinder you.  In order to do that, your mindset must change and you must believe you are who God says you are. Give yourself some grace and take comfort in knowing that God can turn old pain into new power for His purpose. Be encouraged!

Shamika Hill