By Brenda Black
Fiona
Coote, at 14 years of age, became the youngest heart transplant
recipient in Australia. Her true claim to fame: She received not just
one heart transplant, but three! On three separate occasions, Fiona
was granted another chance at life.
Some of us may not have that many
opportunities, but we each have the choice at least once to stick
with the old or opt for the new when it comes to attitude and heart.
"During the mighty movements of
the Holy Spirit in the Moody-Sankey meetings in Dublin, the worldly
father of C.T. Studd was gloriously saved. He invited some of his
worldly companions to come to his home so that he could tell them the
wonderful news. When one wealthy English sportsman arrived at the
railway station he was met by the coachman. He could not wait till he
got to the house to know what had happened to his old friend, so he
began to question the coachman.
“'I hear that something
remarkable has happened to your master. I hear he’s got religion.
Please tell me about it. In what way is Mr. Studd changed?’
“'Oh,’
said the Irish coachman, 'It’s a revolution. In one sense he is
still the same man--he’s in the same body. But the best way I can
explain him is he’s a new man in the old skin.’
“The new
creature receives a new set of appetites and a new set of attitudes.
The babe in Christ has now a holy nature with a propensity toward
holiness. The things he used to hate, now he loves and the things he
used to love, now he hates." (James A. Stewart, Come O Breath!,
published by Revival Literature, Asheville, NC 28816; pg. 83.)
How about you? It's a new year; are
you ready for a new you? The bigger question is whether you have
made it possible to become renewed or are letting old attitudes stop
you.
“No one sews a patch of unshrunk
cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the
garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old
wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out
and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new
wineskins, and both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:16-17)
Jesus taught his disciples that
changing the mind made it possible for heart modifications. An
acceptance for new worship, deeper faith and abundant joy hinged on a
simple outlook – the willingness to let go of the old and try
something different. We all get stuck in ruts. Our faith fizzles. Our
enthusiasm dwindles. We need heart transplants! We need new go juice
for a brand new year!
Throw off that threadbare garment void
of purpose or comfort. Stop packing around an old wineskin that leaks
every bit of flavor through the bottom corner. “Do not conform any
longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2a)
This new outfit; this new skin is a
mindset of supple submission to the Holy Spirit. It stretches over
every area of life and shields from demonic darts. It's the perfect
place to house a new heart!
So where do we begin? At the heart of
it of course. Look deep within what skin you are in. Search the heart
that now beats and answer honestly whether it pounds out a rhythm of
love and loyalty for God first and most. Take the test: Do you love
the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your strength? (Deuteronomy 6:5)
If you come to the conclusion it's
time for an upgrade, then fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and
finisher of your faith. Commit to a new attitude that will welcome a
heart transplant and not reject it. Get ready for renewed passion,
energized faith, rejoicing and fruitful living!
A new year plus a new attitude plus a
new heart, equals a new you! Before you resolve to change anything
else, check the garment, check the skin, check the heart and ask
Christ to live within.
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