Why Follow Jesus - 11. He Grants You New Life

Hello and welcome to Van Life Devotions. In this series we are looking at reasons to be a follower of Jesus. One of the great reasons to be follower of Jesus is you can live a new life. You might be watching and thinking, I don’t need a new life. I like the one I have. Or, you might be watching and thinking “tell me more. I need a new life”.

The Bible says, “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). For so many, they have personally experienced this new life.

The Bible uses many metaphors to describe this new life, one of which is a masterpiece. It says that “we are God’s masterpiece” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT). I’ve been to some famous art galleries and museums around the world and have seen masterpieces. Here’s Leisl at the Louvre Museum in Paris trying to look at a Masterpiece.

It was pretty crazy… To God, you are His masterpiece, but you didn’t start out like this. The Bible paints a picture of humanity, but it is a picture that has imperfections and stains. It says, “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world…” (Ephesians 2:1-3 NLT).

Not exactly a masterpiece! However, the Bible also states how God has crafted us: “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. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!) For He raised us from the dead along with Christ… God saved you by His grace when you believed” (Ephesians 2:4-8 NLT).

God looked at us and saw a work that was stained with sin by our own doing. And yet, in His mercy, love, and grace He re-create us - “He gave us life” (Eph.2:5 NLT). This new life breathed into us only happened because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

God is an amazing creator. This is pointed out by King David in the Bible where he wrote about God’s workmanship and attention to detail: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalms 139:14 NIV).

Perhaps you don’t consider yourself as a masterpiece nor wonderfully made. For Deidra Foster she also felt like this. However, she has since changed her perspective. Deidra has written a poem called “God's Masterpiece”: 

My face might not be as beautiful as others, but my face is still God's Masterpiece.My smile might not be as bright as others, but my smile is still God's Masterpiece.My body might not be shaped like others, but my body is still God's Masterpiece.My laughter might not be as cute as others, but my laughter is still God's Masterpiece.Everything I have is God's Masterpieces!

Being God’s masterpiece means that you are an original. You are not average. You are one of a kind. When God created you, He went to great lengths to make you exactly the way He wanted. You didn't just happen to get your personality. You didn't just accidentally get your skin colour, your gifts or abilities. God designed you the way you are. You are an original.

Being God’s masterpiece means that you are still a work in progress. The bible says, “O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are the potter. We all are formed by Your hand” (Isaiah 64:8 NLT). You are also fixable. When God looks at the canvas of your life, He sees the mistakes, sins, and blemishes. But rather than discard you or even try to gloss over the error, God does something with your mistakes – He wipes clean your mistakes. That’s why the Bible says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).

Why be a follower of Jesus? Because God grants you new life.  

How do you follow Jesus? Trust and obey. Trust in faith that Jesus is God’s Son who saved you on the cross. And follow Jesus as Lord by obeying His teachings.

I invite you to pray this prayer with me:

Father God.

I am sorry that I am a sinner.

Thank you for forgiving me.

I praise You for raising Jesus to life.

Please create in me a new life.

Enable me to put my trust in You and

to obey Your teachings.

In Jesus’ name

Amen

David Moyes