When the snow begins to melt away and the cold disappears from the air, we know that a new season is here. Springtime comes with bright green buds on the trees, blossoming flowers, and so many more signs of life.

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The birds seem to chirp the loudest in the springtime, and the air smells crisp and fresh. Everything that seemed dead in the winter

comes to life again in beautiful and vibrant colors. Everything is new! Springtime can bring us joy for so many reasons, and it can also be a reminder of how much God can change us.

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Before we know Jesus, we are stuck in our old sinful way of life. We’re like the winter grass and trees, dry and dead. Without God’s grace, it’s like we’re out in the bitter winter wind that bites and stings. But when we come to Him, we are brought into the warmth of spring and made new.

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When we put our trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins, God transforms our lives. Through Jesus’s death on the cross and miraculous resurrection from the grave, God makes us fresh and new. We have life like the springtime blossoms because of God’s great love for us.

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When we look around at the amazing transformation of springtime, we can thank God for how He has also changed us. • Bethany Acker

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• Read Ephesians 2:1-10. How does this passage describe us before we know Jesus? How does it describe us once we do know Jesus? (If you have questions about knowing Jesus, see our "Know Jesus" page.)

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• Even as Christians, we all do things we regret, but God is full of grace and mercy, and He wants to make our lives as beautiful as spring. Jesus’s death and resurrection have secured our righteousness before Him and our forgiveness, so Christians are blameless in God’s sight! And through the Holy Spirit, God is transforming us to become more and more like Jesus, empowering us to continue to turn away from sin, come to Him, and live in His holy and righteous ways. Can you think of any ways God has brought renewal in your life? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this!

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But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. Ephesians 2:4-5a (NLT)