Christ Makes Us New! By Lane Jordan Burday
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV).
Although I had been brought up in the church, I never really understood that each person must make a personal commitment to Jesus. This is done by asking Him to come into our life, to forgive our sins, and be the Lord of our life. I always thought that by “being good,” I would go to heaven. Weren’t my parents and grandparents churchgoers?
But did you know that there isn’t one place in the Bible that says this is all we need to do to become “saved?” You see, if there was something we could do, such as being good and going to church, then Jesus didn’t need to die on the cross. We cannot save ourselves—only the power and the love of God through the death of His Son can do that.
So, at the age of 24, a friend invited me to church, and at the end of the service, I knew I needed something else. I was in despair and didn’t know how to get out of it. So, I prayed, “Lord, please come into my life.” And then I paused and said, “Even if I have to go to a third-world country as a missionary, I will if only You would come into my life.”
Wow! That simple but real prayer changed me. And forever. God knew I was serious (I had a fear I’d have to become a missionary!), and He lovingly saved me. How do I know? My thoughts changed, my bad language changed, I had this new love for people, and I couldn’t wait to hear more about God! I had a turnaround experience.
I was reading the Bible one day when the verse above shown brightly to me. That was me! I really was a “new creation!” All the crummy parts of me were leaving, and I was becoming a “new person!” Another verse verified this:
The Spirit itself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:16).
I love the testimony of John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church. He had prayed as I did and said, “I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation, and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death” (From John Wesley’s Journal, May 24, 1738).
Have you truly asked Jesus into your life?
Reflect
Prayer
My Dear Heavenly Father, I bow before You now in humbleness, asking You to forgive me of all my sins and to come into my life. I want to be reborn into You! Fill me with your Holy Spirit and lead me every day.
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Lane Jordan-Burday is the Pearls of Promise Ministries Prayer Co-Coordinator; POP Talk TV and Radio Co-Host and Writer. She is also is an award-winning and best-selling author of over ten adult and children’s books. She is a speaker with Stonecroft Ministries, seminar leader, professional life coach, Bible teacher, and artist. She served as the Associate Producer for the program In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley. She prays for women to come to know the Lord is God!
Lane’s latest book, Evangeline, is a historical fiction based on the book of Esther. You can reach Lane at: lane@lanejordanministries.com. Her website: www.LaneJordanMinistries.com.