SPIRITUAL DO-OVER

7 19 12 Don’t forget to pray. Ask God for insight and an understanding of his Word. This insight or enlightenment is a work of grace and a ministry of the Holy Spirit. Pray you will have eyes to see and ears to hear the marvelous ways that God is showing his love to all his creation but especially to his family of believers.

Scripture:  2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Note: Do you know what a “do-over” in tennis is called? It’s called a “let.” It’s a term that allows a tennis player to re-serve a ball that touch’s the net but stays in play. Do you know what a “do-over” in golf is called? It’s called a Mulligan. If all the players agree it’s an extra stroke that is given to a player who has made a bad shot without a penalty involved. It’s human nature to like “do-overs,” or second chances. If the player or participant has little talent “do-overs” and second chances don’t usually help the final score.

There is a spiritual “do-over” or second chance that works all the time. It is available to all people who call on the name of the Lord for forgiveness and salvation. The Bible refers to this “do-over” as being “born again.” Being born again is the ultimate second chance. It is an opportunity for the individual to be made spiritually brand new. In addition to being forgiven of our sins we are declared righteous in the sight of God. The Holy Spirit begins the transforming work in enabling us to be conformed into the image of Christ. Being born again results in a new life, a new heart, and a new hunger and thirst for God’s Word. There is a word that describes this type of spiritual “do-over.” It’s the word Christian.  In the Bible, the word Christian is often translated as “little Christ” or “Christ like” ones. That’s because in your spiritual “do-over” you have “…put on [your] new self, [which is] created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” [Ephesians 4:24] The new self you have put on is Christ.

Because of this “do-over” the Holy Spirit begins a transforming work in you. He transforms the way in which you think and the way in which you behave and live. You are not reformed, rehabilitated, or reeducated—you are re-created. Your old way of life was worldly. Your new life reflects the character of Christ. His character is now your character, his way is your way; the way of holiness, integrity, sexual purity, wholesomeness, and separation from evil. Your new heart desires to please God in everything you do. Christ likeness is your eternal “do-over.” You are a new creation in Christ Jesus and belong totally and completely to God.

The motor home has allowed us to put all the conveniences of home on wheels. A camper no longer needs to contend with sleeping in a sleeping bag, cooking over a fire, or hauling water from a stream. Now he can park a fully equipped home on a cement slab in the midst of a few pine trees and hook up to a water line, a sewer line and electricity. One motor home I saw recently had a satellite dish attached on top. No more bother with dirt, no more smoke from the fire, no more drudgery of walking to the stream. Now it is possible to go camping and never have to go outside. We buy a motor home with the hope of seeing new places, of getting out into the world. Yet we deck it out with the same furnishings as in our living room. Thus nothing really changes. We may drive to a new place, set ourselves in new surroundings, but the newness goes unnoticed, for we’ve only carried along our old setting. The adventure of new life in Christ begins when the comfortable patterns of the old life are left behind. [Contributed By: Stephen Smarowsky]

Word from the Lord: “Beloved, do you need a “do-over,” a fresh start. Remember I am the God of the second, third, fourth, and fifth…….chance. I am able to remove all the stench and filth from your trip to the pig sty of the world. Call to me and let me lovingly restore you to holiness. Relinquish the throne of your life to me. By now you should be able to see that your way is not going to work. You can’t improve your life through your own efforts and in your own strength? Trust me in this. I call you to a new life and spiritual “do-over” and I have the strength to make it happen.”

Did the Lord speak to you today?  Why not write it down and claim it for His Glory. 


Prayer:  What do you need to pray to the Lord today? Listen to your heart. He loves you!


If you are not interesting in receiving these devotionals please let me know and I will remove you from the list. I hope you enjoy them and that they encourage you to faithfulness. david