FSM Blogger

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

I have been getting ready to preach a sermon on Sunday. In studying the passage I am using, I came across an interesting reading of the verses around the passage I am using...anyway...it made me think. Having a fresh start can be a good thing. obviously it can also be abused. I mean you can start over and over on purpose (i.e. do something on the weekend knowing you can ask forgiveness later). But I began wondering how many times we do actually want a fresh start but can't get one because people can't seem to get it in their minds that we are actually sorry for messing up and really want to start anew. When it comes down to it, God is the one that truly knows if we are starting over...but He is also the one that brings about REAL fresh starts..ones that come from the inside out. I mean how can we tell if someone has made a fresh start? Or can we tell at all? I think the person's actions will give us a great hint. BUT I wonder how many people start out with the intention of making the fresh start from God a true fresh start (wanting to change their lives, friends, behaviors, etc), yet, the people around them don't 'see it happening' so don't give them the help they may need? In other words, how important is it that we help those that are looking for a fresh start? What is our role in helping someone who has been cleaned by God to continue to grow in Him? Or should that person just do it on their own? Shout it out folks....