New You, New Task
August 13, 2018
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As believers and followers of Christ, we have been made new! This is a beautiful, wondrous theme carried throughout the New Testament. First Peter 1:3 says that according to God’s “great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” And 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
The word new in Greek is kainos, meaning “unused,” “fresh,” and “novel.” This connotes a renewal of our mind, heart, and spirit — and this renewal naturally overflows into our actions and purpose as Christians. Isn’t it amazing to know that we have received not only the free gift of salvation simply by believing in Jesus and following Him, but also a brand-new heart, spirit, attitude, outlook, and purpose?!
As a new creation in Christ, you have also acquired a new task in life. Think of this task like a new job or mission. Jesus gave this mission in Mark 16:15, when he said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Jesus said He would send those who follow Him to fish for people (Matthew 4:19). And in Matthew 28:19–20 — which is often called “the Great Commission” — He instructed believers to go, to make disciples, to baptize, and to teach. This awesome instruction is echoed in Jesus’ last words before He ascended to heaven in Acts 1:8:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
We learn from John 14:15, 23 and 1 John 5:3 that if we love God we will obey His commands. And without a doubt, one of God’s most important commands is to preach the Gospel and to be Christ’s witness all over the world.
We find evidence of this awesome assignment in the Old Testament as well. Just take a look at Psalm 96:2–3:
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Can you imagine if each and every Christian would “proclaim his salvation day after day”—to “declare his glory among the nations”? Can you imagine if we spent less time on the distractions of this world and more time sharing “his marvelous deeds among all peoples”?
Oh, I bet we could change the world!
Taken from the book, Compelled: The Irresistible Call to Share Your Faith, © 2018 by Dudley Rutherford. Used with permission by Worthy Books, an imprint of Worthy Publishing Group, a division of Worthy Media Inc., All Rights Reserved.
