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God’s Love Devotional – Week 1
Weekly Theme:
What Happens When a Person Becomes a Christian Parts 1&2
2Co 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Monday
Now that you have decided to ask Jesus into your heart. It is important that you begin to understand all that has happened to you. Becoming a Christian is the greatest miracle of all. The Bible says that you actually became a new creation!
What part of you became new when you received Jesus? One important thing for you to understand is that a person is a made up of three parts. (1 Thess 5.23) The main part of a person is their spirit. We were created in the image of God and the Bible says that God is a spirit. A person is a spirit that lives in a body and has a soul (our soul is our mind, will and emotions) [we will talk more about this later]
When a person becomes a Christian, their spirit becomes brand new. Their body doesn’t change (if you had red hair before you were saved you still had red hair after you were saved), and your soul – your mind – your thinking, your emotions, don’t automatically change – but our spirit becomes new.
Take Action: Take 10 minutes to memorize our weekly verse – 2 Cor 5.17
Tuesday
Jesus replied – “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” John 3.3
Here Jesus talked to a man named Nicodemus about the new birth. Nicodemus didn’t understand how a man could be reborn. But Jesus was talking about a spiritual birth. This is what happened to you when you received Jesus.
Just like newborn babies need milk to grow, your newborn spirit needs the milk of the Word of God to develop and strengthen.
Take Action: Pray this: “Thank you Lord for making me new. Help me to desire the milk of your Word so I can grow into who you want me to be.”
Wednesday
As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow by it. 1 Peter 2.2
Don’t forget that no matter how old a person is when they become a Christian, they are a new born baby spiritually. Babies need proper nutrition to grow.
Just like your body, when your spirit isn’t fed it becomes weak. The milk of the Word of God strengthens your spirit like food strengthens your body. Paul said we are to desire the sincere milk of the Word of God so we may grow by it.
As you read a little bit of the Bible each day – little by little you’ll find yourself becoming spiritually stronger. This growth process never stops.
Take Action: Tips for studying the Bible:
-Find a good translation of the Bible that you can understand. The NIV is a good one.
-Start and spend most of your time in the New Testament. The Gospel of John is a good place to start.
-Don’t read too fast. Take your time – even if you just read a few verses.
-Ask God to help you understand and apply the scripture to your life. He will help you!
-Stick with it. If you forget to read one day, don’t be discouraged – just keep with it, soon you will notice you are starting to grow.
Thursday
…..I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess 5.23b
Understanding the three-fold nature of man can help us understand many things in the Bible. Let’s define the three parts.
Spirit – the real you. Deep inside of you – your core. This is the part of you that became new when you became a Christian.
Soul – you have a soul – your mind (your thinking, imagination), your will (your ability to make decisions) and your feelings – emotions.
Body – Your flesh – the part everyone sees. Some have called it your “earthsuit” – because when your body dies your spirit and soul will leave this earth.
When you became a Christian you spirit became new. But you have the job, with God’s help to renew your mind to the Word of God and to present your body to Him. Rom 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Take Action: Fill in the blanks: A person is a _______ who has a ______ and lives in a __________.
Friday
2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Another wonderful thing that happened when you became a Christian is that your sins are forgiven. The Bible says that old things have passed away, all your old sins – anything that happened before you became a Christian is gone! In fact God doesn’t even remember our sins anymore.
Heb 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
What a tremendous thing! God doesn’t remember them anymore. They are gone! Please remember this is what the Word of God says regardless of whether you “feel” forgiven. God has forgiven and forgotten your sins.
Because Jesus shed his blood for you, you have been made to be in right standing with God. 2 Cor 5.21
Take Action: Thank God that your sins are forgiven am the He doesn’t remember your sins anymore!