Daily Devotional for April 6, 2023

There are many times when my marriage is in serious jeopardy.  It’s always Shannon’s fault.  Here’s an example.

Through the years, Shannon has done almost all the grocery shopping because when I go to the grocery store, she doesn’t like the results.

On those rare occasions when Shannon sends me grocery shopping, she always makes a meticulous list of exactly what I am to buy.  I always look at her list as a loose guideline.  Sometimes I get what’s on it.  Sometimes I don’t.

Another problem Shannon has with my shopping is even though we only eat bark, rocks, and sticks, there are all sorts of wonderfully flavored bark, rocks, and sticks.  I buy whatever looks best.  These items are never on Shannon’s list.

To reduce friction in our marriage, Shannon does the shopping.  But there’s been a problem.

Because of Shannon’s hip replacement surgery, she was in a true predicament.  She couldn’t go to the grocery store, she didn’t want to send me, but we were running out of food.  

A friend suggested Shannon try curbside service at the grocery store.  And while I am always against anything new, I obeyed my wife and drove to the grocery store, texted a message, then, low and behold, a very courteous young man brought out a huge grocery cart filled with exact bark, rocks, and twigs Shannon had ordered.  

My marriage survived another catastrophe in the making with a new way of grocery shopping.  Who knew something new could be a good thing?  This got me thinking.

For those of you, like me, who are anti-anything new, did you know the moment you accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior; you become new?

This is what Paul meant by saying, “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation; everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

This is why an important Christian symbol is the butterfly.  It appears dead but eventually emerges as a beautiful new creation.  In the same way, when we allow Jesus to rule our hearts, govern our behavior, and become the rock of our existence, we too become a new creation.

While becoming a Christian won’t eliminate all the storms of life.  When you sail on stormy seas, you can rest assured you are not alone.  The One who makes all things new will be right beside you.  That means you can handle whatever life sends your way.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, thank you for making me new.  Please use me for your purpose.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

If you haven’t accepted Jesus, I pray you will.  I want you to be new.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins