BEGINNINGS
A new car, a new house, a new job, new clothes, a new day, a new friendship, a new baby-all suggest a fresh start. Newness is a beginning or beginning again, something that never was before, or was before but is now different, another way. It is a turn in the road, starting over, a fresh encounter. People dream of new beginnings-an escape from sameness, a chance to wipe the slate clean and start over, an opportunity to move away from the ordinary. For some, newness is threatening, forcing them away from the comfortable, the tried and true. For others it is exciting, a challenge to move into virgin territory, the exhilaration of an encounter with the unknown.
LIFE IS A SERIES OF NEW BEGINNINGS; HOW WE ENTER INTO THEM MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
Lamentations 3:23 . . . Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.
We are more used to new beginnings than we think, for each day we do a whole series of new things. Each day also gives us new opportunities to get to know our God better and to start over with a new attitude toward circumstances and people.
Zechariah 4:10 . . . “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”
New beginnings-no matter how small-that move us toward a life of greater faithfulness are welcomed by God.
WHY ARE BEGINNINGS GOOD FOR US SOMETIMES?
2 Corinthians 5:17 . . . Those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!
Nehemiah 2:17-18 . . . I said to them, . . . “Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem” . . . They replied at once, “. . . Let’s rebuild the wall.” So they began the good work.
Our greatest beginning is our new life in Christ; it is the beginning of eternal life. But other beginnings can help us create a new vision and purpose, renew our energy, and stimulate us to become more involved where we may have slipped into inactivity.
WHEN CAN A NEW BEGINNING BE HARMFUL?
Jonah 1:1-3 . . . But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction in order to get away from the Lord.
When we try to escape from our responsibilities or get away from God.
James 1:13-15 . . . Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death.
When we give in to temptation and begin to sin willfully.
Philippians 4:8 . . . Fix your thoughts on what is true and . . . right.
When we start thinking impure thoughts. An evil action begins with a single thought.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS I SHOULD FINISH ONCE I START?
Hebrews 3:14 . . . If we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
Persevere in your new life in Christ. We must maintain the confident faith we had when we first believed.
Genesis 2:24 . . . This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.
Carry out your marriage vows.
Matthew 5:33 . . . Do not break your vows.
Keep your promises.
Jude 1:21 . . . Live in such a way that God’s love can bless you.
Uphold your commitment to godly living.
Proverbs 2:1-5 . . . Cry out for insight and understanding. Search for them as . . . for . . . hidden treasure. Then you will . . . gain knowledge of God.
Don’t give up on your desire for wisdom.
THERE IS A BEGINNING THAT HAS NO BEGINNING.
John 1:1 . . . In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God.
God has always been; there was no beginning with him. That is why he is God. Eternity preceded the beginning of time and succeeds the end of time.
I WANT TO START LIFE ANEW, TO BE FORGIVEN AND TO BE CLEANSED. WILL GOD TRULY DO THAT?
Psalm 51:10 . . . Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
Ephesians 4:24 . . . You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness-righteous, holy, and true.
Although we won’t be entirely pure in this life, like David we can pursue purity as one of our primary goals.
WITH CLEAN NEW HEARTS WE WILL ALSO GET A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
Romans 5:11 . . . Now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God-all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.
A new relationship with God comes with a new heart. Who would not rather be a son or daughter of God than a stranger or enemy to God?
IN THE END, GOD WILL MAKE ALL THINGS NEW, SO THERE WILL BE NEW BEGINNINGS ONCE MORE.
Revelation 21:5 . . . And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making all things new!”