A New Beginning!

Soon after we got married, we set up home in KK Nagar, a suburb in Chennai. It was there our first son Sushil was born. It so happened we moved the next year to another house also in KK Nagar, and by the time we built our own house in Anna Nagar and moved in on Jan 22nd, 1981, we had moved through two more rented houses! One day when I came back from office, I found Sushil scribbling on the wall and when I asked him he just said, "Amma, now this house has become dirty. Let us move to the next house!" Somehow our frequent house changes had made him believe that once a house becomes dirty, we can actually move to a new home!

Peter was a remarkable disciple. He was quick with his responses and firm in beliefs. Peter declared that even if everyone else stumbles, he will not. We find Jesus saying to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times" in Matthew 26:34. When Peter had denied Jesus just as Jesus had said, Luke tells us (Luke 22:61) that Jesus turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered Jesus' words of warning and wept bitterly. That must have been the moment of greatest sorrow for Peter. Peter had let down His Lord and Master so completely, so soon. Peter must have thought that Jesus will reject him entirely. But on the resurrection morning, when Jesus appeared to the women, He gave them a specific task, "But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—…"(Mark 16:7)." Jesus specifically mentioned Peter by name and gave him a new beginning that day!

We can quickly identify with Peter. We fall and then think, "Oh how could I have done or said something that?" We all need a new beginning, and that is exactly what Jesus is giving us today. The Bible says in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."When we repent, and return to the Lord, Jesus gives each one of us a new beginning!

My friend, our life has been renewed in Christ Jesus. Whatever sins may lie in our past, is all wiped clean. Let us start afresh and decide to live a life glorifying God every day of the remaining years!

Categories: Weekly DevotionalsAuthor: Hephzibah StephenDate: 29th January 2019 Share: newsletterDisplay date: 30th January 2019

---