1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

Explanation:

God has laid out a plan for all of mankind. He desires to have a personal relationship with each of us. According to this scripture, we have the opportunity to be born again or changed. We have hope because of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. What does it mean to be born again?

In researching this scripture, I read something interesting. Someone said that culture has redefined and cheapened some biblical words so much that they no longer mean what the Bible truly intends them to mean. The words then seep back into our vocabulary with a devalued meaning. The term “born again” has been one of those phrases. Anyone who makes an amazing come-back like in sports is described as being born again. Or a corporation that has made their company more successful than ever may now be called a born-again company.

The biblical meaning of “born again” should never be cheapened. We were redeemed by Christ's great mercy. The price of Jesus' sacrifice goes beyond comprehension. When we ask Jesus Christ to become King of our hearts, we must replace our humanness with His Spirit. We must be changed into a new person. Our lives should look different.

As the scripture says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Action Step:

Stop right now and think about whether your life reflects something different than the world gives.

Do you exhibit: Peace or Confusion Hope or Defeat Patience or Frustration

Are you: Generous or Stingy Obedient or Confrontational Forgiving or Stubborn

Prayer:

Father God, I need Your help each and every day to live my life as a changed person. I thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to sacrifice His life on my behalf. Now that I have been reborn as a new creation, help my life to reflect that in this dark world. Keep me always mindful of how my actions look to others. I want to be a shining, living example of You, Lord. Amen.