A new year can be a new start or a new dedication. The status quo will never be good enough, we were created to be in companionship with our creator.

For believers the process of starting over is sometimes called renewal or revival

Starting over is a major theme of Christian history. As we study the scriptures we find examples of spiritual renewals and revivals.

In Genesis 25 verse 9  and then 14 ; {Message Bible}

V9; “God revealed himself once again to Jacob, after he had come back from Paddan Aram and blessed him:’Your name is Jacob [heel], but that’s your name no longer. From now on your name is Israel [God wrestler]’

V14  Jacob set up a stone pillar on the spot where God had spoken with Him.

God gave Jacob a new name ‘Israel {God wrestler}, and Jacob and his family made a fresh start as God’s people.

This is an interesting story because after Jacob reunited with his estranged brother Esau, one of Jacobs daughters, was raped by a Canaanite. The incident and the revenge reaction that followed was a wake up call for Jacob as he realized how far his family had departed from loyalty to God. So he led them back to Bethel for repentance and renewed worship of the Lord.

When we look at the Book of Acts, {Acts 11 verse 26}  As faith in Jesus spread among first century Jews, some of the new believers arrived at Antioch, where they did something new. They offered their faith to a group called the Hellenist’s, Greek speaking Jews not originally from Palestine, the wonderful result of their stepping out was a multi-ethnic church that led the way for sending messengers throughout the Roman world, with the Good News of God’s grace in Jesus Christ.{Acts 13 verses 1 to 5}

It is never to late to look at ourselves, what patterns in our lives have become status quo? What patterns in our personal lives, family, work, church or community, have grown dull or perhaps even sinful with the passage of time?

In driving past a church the other day, they had a sign rededicate your baptism.

Maybe with all the things that are there in the world pulling on our attention, let us think again of what it was to be baptized  into Faith in Christ Jesus.

When we go under the water, it is a symbol of burial and when we come out of the water, it is a symbol of New Life. The old man or woman is dead and the new man or woman is alive in Christ Jesus, {Our Lord and Our Friend}.

Let us take time, to wash and polish in God’s Truth, and shine and share through our lives afresh.
God Bless.

O F J.