A lot of people think that the Bible is “old news.” They’ve concluded that what’s in it is outdated and/or useless.
But a lot of folks – including me – believe that its words of truth and wisdom are ever new, ever fresh. And that they hold the key to life.
Indeed, many verses throughout the Bible speak of newness, with the promise of brightness in the days to come. So in this second week of the new year – the second week of 2024 – let’s gather a collection of those thoughts and ruminate on what our Heavenly Father is offering us.
Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” As we embark on this new year, let’s pause and reflect on the promise of each morning, when the compassion of the Lord is renewed. In every dawn, there is a chance for a new beginning.
2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Just as each dawn brings the promise of a fresh start, this verse unveils a profound reality: In Christ, the past is eclipsed, and a new creation emerges. Embrace the transformative power of this promise – allowing the old to fade away – and step boldly into the newness found in the loving embrace of our Creator.
Isaiah 43:19: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah reminds us that God is constantly at work, creating new paths and opportunities even in the most challenging circumstances. His promise – if we accept and obey him – is not just for a fresh start but for a flourishing journey, where streams of grace flow through our lives.
Ezekiel 36:26: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” In the framework of our being, God promises not just a surface-level renewal but a profound transformation from within. Let this verse be a beacon, guiding us to surrender the hardness of the past and to receive a heart tenderized by divine love, a refreshed spirit and an expanded capacity for compassion and grace.
Romans 6:4: “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” In the waters of baptism, we share in Christ’s death and resurrection, signifying not only the burial of our old selves but the emergence into a new, revived existence. May this verse inspire us to embrace the transformative power of our spiritual rebirth and the promise of a continually unfolding new life.
1 Peter 1:3: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” This verse encapsulates the essence of Christian faith – a journey marked by gratitude for divine mercy and a vibrant hope anchored in the resurrection. For believers, it promises life beyond the constraints of the present.
As we continue to sail into 2024, let’s remember, as Jeremiah said, that God’s love and mercy are new every morning – and that means 365 days a year. Just think: 365 days of newness. Each and every time the Earth revolves on its journey around the sun.
So let’s embrace the newness God has in store for us and trust in his promises. May these verses inspire us to seek his guidance and wisdom and to live each day with purpose and meaning.
Happy New Year!
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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
