Regeneration

​Recalescence is the sudden glowing which takes place in metal that is cooling.  It is caused by the liberation of the latent heat of transformation.  It is a hot word picture that imperfectly depicts what happens to us who are spiritually born in Christ.  The truth is, the Holy Spirit is constantly at work in our lives as we determine to worship God.  Accordingly, there will be not one sudden glowing, but continuous times when the brilliant light of God bursts from our lives as the dazzling display of divine transformation.  This is what we call regeneration!  

​Our bodies are decaying. My knees and joints are proof enough for me!  Yet in the midst of physical cooling down are we spiritually heating up?  That’s right!  The more we know, worship and obey God the more we are regenerated. This is why Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:17—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.”  The key is to be “in Christ.”

​Today, you and I have the opportunity to be IN CHRIST.  Like the song goes, “Shine Jesus Shine!”  Shine Buddha shine just won’t do it.  Shine Mohammed shine can’t bring the heat.  There’s no name but the name of Jesus to take the frail flesh-encased human and set off an eternal glow.  Jesus brings the warmth that takes off the sin-chill.  He regenerates us for God’s glory.  Are you a lamp to a world that feels the darkness?  
 
Meditation
1 Peter 1:3,4--Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
 
Inspiration
You and I are a mixture of dust and deity, and God takes that sordid human stuff and turns it into a saint by regeneration.—Oswald Chambers in The Shadow of an Agony
 
©1999 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)