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Under New Management
by Susan Gurney We have all seen the sign at one time or another: "Under New Management!!" It may be written in large letters on a banner across the front of a store, or on a small placard on the door of a restaurant. Whatever form the sign itself may take, the reader's assumption is always the same: "The management is new, so look out for some changes!" One always hopes the changes are for the better, but they may be for the worse. Even when the new manager strives to keep everything "just the same as before"...it won't be, for the new manager is just that--"new"--and he or she can't possibly have the same temperament, abilities, ideas, or motivation as the "old" manager. Those differences that are an inborn part of the new manager are bound to show up in the business itself--either as good changes, bad changes, or perhaps a mix of both. When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about being born again in John 3, He was talking about allowing oneself to be put under the new management of His spirit, the Holy Spirit. Prior to taking the step of being "born again", each person tends to see him or herself as being in "self" control, but that is not the complete picture. Each person is actually under the control of a management "team". This age-old, world-wide management team could be called: "Sin, Self & Satan, Incorporated", or "S. S. & S., Inc." for short. The good news is that God has His own management team: "God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Unlimited!" However, many persons believe they have to change themselves before they can be "good enough" for God to accept them as "team players" serving under His management team. This isn't true. His Son, Jesus, died and rose again to open the door for all to be freely accepted, no matter how "good" or "bad". Once a person believes and accepts this as fact--is "born again"--then the Holy Spirit can become the motivator, encourager, and supporter of positive change, either gradual or sudden, in the life of that person. I say "can become" because many who accept Christ's salvation, turn right around and block the Holy Spirit's work in their lives by insisting on continuing as their own head managers--which, as we've already seen, leads only to the reality of being controlled by the "S. S. & S., Inc." team. It is no wonder that little or no positive change will be evident in the lives of those "Christians"--they are still under the "old" management, regardless of what their "signs" may say! Who is the real manager of your life--the "new" team of "God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Unlimited"--or the "old" team of "Sin, Self & Satan, Inc."? What does God's Word, the Bible, say about this? John 3:3b "'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.'" NIV John 3:16-17 "'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.'" NIV II Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" NIV Ephesians 4:23-24 "...to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." NIV Now read the following Bible passages in your favorite version of the Bible: John 3:1-21 II Corinthians 5:17 Ephesians 4:14-32 Susan Gurney writes devotionals, poetry, short stories, memoirs, and nonfiction on family history, faith and nature. She has experience writing/editing church and family newsletters. Find Susan at http://ssimonsgurney.christianblogsites.com/blog/ Copyright 2013 Susan Simons Gurney Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |