"New"

New car, new home, new job, new wife,

New things to do, new year, new life,

There’s magic in that word it’s true,

And God says He’ll make all things new.

New beginning, brand-new start,

Born anew, a brand-new heart,

Sins forgiven, promise made,

Eternal life when this one fades.

New grace happens when we need,

Help to get our bondage freed,

Breaking all addictions, too,

Liberated life that’s new.

New healing for our painful past,

For injuries that held us fast,

By His stripes they have to go,

And then we can forgive, you know.

New mercies rise up with the sun,

New strength for getting new things done,

The Spirit makes it so, you see,

The power flows through you and me.

Died with Him in waters deep,

Raised up then our souls to keep,

Newness walking with Him each day,

New mission both to do and say.

New circles, people we will meet,

In Jesus’ name we gladly greet,

To share with them the best news yet,

A brand-new life with Jesus get.

“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4, NLT)

The recurring theme of the Bible and especially the New Testament is the new life Jesus gives us. Baptism symbolizes our death to self and being raised to live a new life with Jesus in the lead. Our old Baptist pastor used to say when he put someone under the water, “Buried with Christ in baptism.” Then when he lifted them up he’d say, “Raised to walk in newness of life.” Walking in “newness” means we live in a constant state of renewal. Paul said we are inwardly renewed by the Spirit everyday. And this is the reason we are able to enjoy an abundant life. It truly is the greatest adventure to live in cooperation with what the Lord leads us to do. it will involve sacrifice and self-denial, but it’s overwhelmingly worth it. The abundance of the new life so far outweighs the price we pay as to be incomparable. As Paul said, the challenges are nothing compared to the glory we experience. Get on with it.

Lord, help us walk in newness of life, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Jack Sorenson, used by permission. Thanks, Jack, and God bless you.