Beginnings: His New Will

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:16-17 (NKJV)

To comprehend the scope of the Lord’s plan for His Son’s GRUESOME, sacrificial death is far beyond me. My mind can’t grasp it.

So I say WOW with the awe of a child, who lived in an orphanage of chaos. Moments of light were few, and none lasted. Darkness would creep back in to swallow them.

Then a Father, a Savior, picked me up and carried me to a place I'd not known: the Kingdom of Light, a Rock-solid home of love and joy, with a circle of friends.

Dark moments came, but Light overwhelmed them. In a wondrous switch labeled “born-again”, depressing times were 'Swallowed up by life' (2 Corinthians 5:4).

Paul proclaims it: 'O death, where is your sting?' (1 Corinthians 15:55).

But this newness would not be possible without the death of Jesus as a Man. His sacrifice fulfilled the requirements Moses received in the Old Testament… and wrote a new will: The New Testament! Within it, The Word writes:

  • His Father’s final Word on salvation,

  • The wondrous process of our adoption,

  • And the details of our inheritance.

To receive these benefits and blessings, God requires a singular signature. We sign for them in spiritual Blood.

  • The actual Blood came from His Own Son, as He was scourged, nailed, and pierced on a Cross.

  • God’s Heart in us comes through faith, seen by works, and an ongoing death of selfishness.**

What a strange thought: the death of selfishness!

'For the message of The Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God' (1 Corinthians 1:18). 

Paul explains further: 'I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me' (Galatians 2:20).

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Reconsider the unprecedented role God offers YOU at such a time as this: a time of darkness, with eyes stuck on screens, and celebrities FLAUNTING SELFISHNESS.

He asks you to become lights in this world: self-sacrificing, Jesus-worshiping, actors of His New Will in media.

In the act of carrying His New Will, He rewards you with your heart’s true desires: benefits that are real, here, now, and new.

Beginnings: His New Will (Part 10)

* What is the New Covenant? | GotQuestions.org

** Consider one meaning of Paul's Words: 'I die daily' (1 Corinthians 15:31). Surrendering our lives to Jesus is a jump from the cliff of self-reliance. Our landing place? A plunge in a pool of Living Water. It's called baptism. Therein, God gets our hearts. Even so, surrendering our heads, mouths, stomachs, hands, feet and activities requires dying to selfishness daily... even hourly. I'm not there yet, but I press forward.

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God–  to multiply them in the world for His glory.

P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.

WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!

Carey Arban