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A new beginning

Posted on by Rahel Oberholzer

Have you ever felt as if your life is over and your future is so affected by your past that you wish to start all over? There is someone who makes a new beginning possible.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2. Corinthian 5,17

In Christ you are a new creation. That means the man you were before died and you became a whole new being. Jesus says the old has passed away and the new has come. Your past does not define your future. Jesus offers you a new beginning, free from any past bondage. Maybe you failed all along the line and there are more broken pieces in your life than anything else. But there is good news for you. Your story is not finished yet. Your past and the broken pieces of your life do not have the final say. It doesn’t matter if it’s your own fault you landed where you are or if just adverse conditions led to your situation. Jesus bore all sins at the cross and freed you forever. His blood constantly cleanses you from every sin. Therefore sin will never again be a problem, because this problem has been solved by Jesus once and for all. You are forgiven, you are made righteous and you live under God’s favour. A new beginning is possible, because Jesus took your place and representatively paid the price for you at the cross.
Give Jesus the broken pieces of your life. When Jesus makes something new, he doesn’t just sticks the ruins together. He actually makes something completely new.

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43,18-19

Jesus is already preparing something new for you. He himself says to you: Leave your past behind. Don’t think about what has happened, look forward. Do you know why he is saying this? When we look back we see our own failure and the broken pieces of the past. But if we look forward, we look upon Jesus and what he is going to do. Choose to look forward. Jesus makes a way and will let rivers spring forth so that your future will be bright, fruitful and filled with hope.

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21,5

Jesus makes all things new! This also applies to your life here on earth. You knowing this is so important to God, that he explicitly confirms it by saying: These words are trustworthy and true! Jesus makes a new beginning in your life possible. That’s a certain and true fact. Leave your past behind, have your future in sight and look to Jesus who makes everything new.

Restoration of lost years

Posted on by Rahel Oberholzer

Did you ever feel as if life just passed you and you have even lost years? In this case there is good news for you. God will restore the lost years to you.

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you. Joel 2,25

God himself promises that he will restore to you the years that have been stolen from you. Locusts and hoppers have one thing in common: they eat whatever they find. Have you ever looked at a leaf after such an animal was done with it? There is more hole left than anything else. It’s the same in our life. Sickness, broken relationship, loneliness, unsatisfied desire, argument, etc. rob you from having an abundant life. These things eat holes into our existence and leave destruction and devastation behind. But that’s not the life God wants you to have.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10,10

Jesus came to bring sin, sickness, death and destruction to a stop in your life. The thief is the devil and all bad things are coming from him. They are part of the fallen world. But as a believer, you are no longer part of the world, for your home is in heaven (John 17,16). Jesus wants you to have an abundant life. Restoration of lost years is part of that. You may think this would be nice, but it’s your own fault you being where you are right now. Yes, that may be true. Maybe wrong decisions or sin has brought you into your current situation. It doesn’t matter why you stranded where you are right now, because Jesus saves you irrespective of what you did or didn’t do. Jesus bore your own failure at the cross to free you. Through Jesus blood at the cross, you have been forgiven of all your sins, past, present and future, both wilful and unintended sin.

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8,12

God remembers your sins no more! Jesus bore the sins at the cross and therefore God will never ever impute sin to you again. If he doesn’t remember your sins anymore, they are also no longer an obstacle for your rescue out of your situation.

He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micha 7,19

God casts your sins into the depths of the sea and it’s forbidden to fish there. All your sins are forgiven. Therefore expect your restoration of lost years. You get it not because of your obedience but because of Jesus’ obedience. Jesus paid the price for you at the cross. You are now free to receive your restoration. This is grace. You get what you didn’t deserve because Jesus became your representative. Jesus is the reason God restores the lost years to you.

You are deeply loved

Posted on by Rahel Oberholzer

Everybody longs to be loved. Sometimes it’s hard for us to love someone or to feel loved. But there is someone who loves you deeply irrespective of what you did or didn’t do.

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremia 31,3

Jesus has always loved you. Bevor you were even born into this world, you were loved. The love of God is irrespective of what you do or don’t do. His love isn’t based on your effort or on how good you are, but it is based solely on God’s kindness. His love is totally selfless. It’s this deep love of God that let Jesus bore the cross and pay the severe price for your salvation. Jesus loves you so much that he gave his own life to redeem and ransom you. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross you have the right to claim every blessing of God today.

We love because he first loved us. 1. John 4,19

Jesus‘ love existed first. He first loved you and this knowledge empowers you to love others. It’s not about your love for Jesus, but his love for you. It’s his first love for you and he will never lose it. For his love is greater than our love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1. Corinthians 13,4-8

Wow! You are so much loved! Jesus loves you with this unconditional love. And because he first loved us we can love others with the same love. That’s the key, he first loved us and he never stops loving us.

The Lord is your healer

Posted on by Rahel Oberholzer

When you have Jesus in your life, you have a right to be healed. God revealed himself as the Lord who heals you.

He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” Exodus 15,26

The diseases of Egypt are a picture of the diseases of the world. For those who believe in Jesus the only thing that counts is, that the Lord is their healer. That doesn’t mean, you can’t get sick. But it means, if you get sick, God is your healer and he will restore your health. It is God’s desire, that you enjoy good health (3 John 2). Therefore, you should never accept sickness in your body.

This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” Matthew 8,17

On the cross, Jesus bore all sicknesses. He paid an immeasurably high price for your healing. Healing is so dear to Jesus heart, that he even healed on the sabbath.

He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Mark 3,5

Jesus wasn’t angry with the people, but he was angry about their stubborn hearts. Their legality expulsed grace and this made Jesus angry. Healing is grace and this man so desperately needed it, no matter if it was sabbath that day or not.
When you are angry about the sickness in your body and the limitations resulting out of it, don’t try to get rid of your anger. Instead channel your anger into the right path. It’s not wrong to be angry about sickness. On the contrary, use your anger and direct it against the sickness. Boldly declare: The Lord is my healer! Sickness, you cannot stay.
Sickness isn’t here to be accepted. It’s part of the curse oft he law (Deuteronomy 28). But Jesus has redeemed you from the curse of the law (Galatias 3,13). Therefore you are entitled to healing. Sickness isn’t allowed to exist in your body. Where Jesus is, sickness must leave, for the Lord is your healer!

Be strong and courageous

Posted on by Rahel Oberholzer

Have you ever wished to be strong and courageous? Is it even possible to be strong and courageous in a world full of challenges?

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31,6

God spoke these words to the people of Israel when Moses appointed Joshua as his successor. The entering into the promised land has not yet happened. Maybe you are in a position, where your promised land lies before you. It could be your financial breakthrough, the healing you long for, the restoration of your marriage or a spouse, because you don’t want to go through life alone anylonger. Whatever it is, these words are for you today: be strong and courageous! But how do we do that? You find the answer in the second part of the verse: God himself will go with you! You don’t rely on your abilities to be strong and courageous, you rely on Jesus abilities. It’s the grace of God, that lets you be strong and courageous. Grace is personified in Jesus and he is the foundation you stand on as a believer.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1,9

Grace is the reason, why you don’t have to panic when you are confronted with challenges. The foundation of grace is not a shaky ground, it’s a solid and strong rock, it’s Jesus. The right perspective will let you be strong and courageous, you won’t be afraid and you won’t be discouraged. Jesus is your hero who fights the battles for you, changes situations and manifests Gods promises in your life.

You don’t get strong and courageous by trying hard to be strong and courageous. It needs you to admit, that you can’t do it on your own and you are dependent on the help of Jesus. Stop doing it on your own and let Jesus create his masterpiece. To do nothing and let Jesus take over might be more challenging than constantly trying to do something on your own. But it’s the way how the blessings of God will manifest in your life. To do nothing is to let go of your own effort and let Jesus do what he needs to do. You do that, by throwing Jesus into the problems you face, by speaking out Gods truth. Do it whenever you are reminded of the problem. Position yourself on the foundation of grace and see how Jesus calms the storms in your life.