New Beginnings - Part 2
“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”
Romans 6:5
Last week I said that Easter is a time for new beginnings. I do not love New Year’s. I think I am usually so tired after all the Christmas celebrations I don’t even want to think about going out for New Year’s and I certainly don’t want to think about resolutions. But, when Easter comes and I see all the new growth on our trees and see the buds forming on our flowers, I get a desire for a change not only in my life but in my heart. This is when I begin to set my goals for the new year. You may ask “Why then? Two months have already passed in the year.” This is when I begin to focus my thoughts and my heart on what Jesus did for us. He chose to endure that brutal death on the cross.
My thoughts go to sanctification which is the process by which believers grow to maturity in Christ. Between our initial redemption and justification and our future glorification, there is a time where God expects us to grow. We grow smack dab in the middle of all the joy that comes with life. We grow right in the middle of all the hardship this world brings us. We grow in the midst of all our confusing questions. Through every season of life there is growth. Our growth can be good where we are growing strong and producing beautiful fruit, but if we are not careful our growth can be spindly and produce rotten fruit. We have to stay focused on Christ for our growth to be beneficial.
This is where the reproduction aspect comes in to the question from last week’s devotional, “What do baptism and reproduction have to do with each other?” We reproduce fruit every time we grow. Our fruit can be evidenced every time we show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We want to produce this fruit that comes from God. How do we make sure we are producing good fruit and not the fruit of hatred, prejudice, anger, pride, jealousy, bitterness, sadness, and shame?
We cannot produce good fruit on our own. It is impossible for mere human effort or discipline to try to live by the law of God. We can only accomplish this through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Along with freedom from sin through Jesus’ death and resurrection also came the gift of the Holy Spirit living in us. The Holy Spirit guides, molds, and develops our growth into producing good fruit. By staying in God’s Word, prayer, and listening to the Holy Spirit our growth can be strong and beautiful.
As believers we participate in Christ’s death because of the experience we have from freedom and separation from the power of sin. We experience the spiritual effects of resurrection now, but we won’t experience the physical resurrection until Christ returns to earth. Jesus’ resurrection is a truth that brings us such joy. What a joyous day it will be when we see Him coming through the clouds with arms open wide to welcome us home. My friends, this Easter may you eagerly await the anticipation of His glorious return. We can rest in the truth that He is producing something good in each of us and will one day sit down and say “well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Digging Deeper:
Read Romans 6:1-14 and Galatians 5:13-26
What kind of growth do you see in your life right now?
How do you see God maturing you through your circumstances?
What kind of growth will you ask God to help you develop this year?
