The old jail had served its purpose for many years. Age finally overcame the obsolete structure and it was condemned. The city council had several special meetings to discuss the new jail and finally insisted on the following requirements:

1. The new jail must be built on the site of the old jail.
2. The new jail must be built with material salvaged from the old jail.
3. The old jail must be used until the new jail was built.

When these demands were placed on the ballot, the voters were so confused that they did not know what to do. They thought that the changes could not be made.

When God saves and changes us, however, it is very different. “Those who become Christians,” Paul wrote, “become new persons. They are not the same anymore for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” How wonderful! God, instantaneously, changes us from the inside out. He gives us a brand new life and we are no longer the same old persons. We are not re-formed or re-invented or re-educated - we are re-generated, re-deemed and re-created. In other words we are new creations!

When Christ comes into our hearts and lives, we begin a new life in Him and through Him. We begin a new life, ruled by a new King, living in a new Kingdom.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are overwhelmed with what happens when we surrender our lives to You as our Lord. May our lives reflect that we are a new creation in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

One night a group of Delaware Indians gathered around a bright, warm fire talking with their Chief.

"I've been thinking," said one, "about the words of the missionary. He talked of a rule delivered by the Author of Christianity. It is known as the Golden Rule. Do you remember his words?"

"Tell me what it is," said the Chief.

"In everything," he said, "do to others what you would have them do to you."

"That's impossible," said the Chief, "unless the Great Spirit who made man would give man a new heart."

That is exactly what God promised to do for us and within us. He said, "I will give you a heart with new and right desires and I will put a new spirit within you."

God wants us to be filled with His grace and treat others as He treats us. However, we cannot be who He wants us to be and do what He wants us to do unless we have that "new spirit." No matter how we have lived or how badly we have treated others in the past, if we choose to accept Christ and do His work, He will put that new spirit within us to do as He would do.

Prayer: Lord, give us that new heart that we may live a new life that is God-honoring, Christ-exalting and Spirit-filled leading to acts of love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Queen Elizabeth enjoyed walking among her subjects dressed “incognito.” One day she walked through the gates into town. A faithful servant followed her.

Walking along a road she came across a flock of sheep. Somehow she got in their way and the shepherd shouted, “Keep out of the way, stupid woman.” The queen smiled, but said nothing.

When the shepherd was told that she was the queen, he said bitterly, “Well, she should have dressed like one!”

This happened to Jesus. When he came into the world He created, He was not recognized. Even the people chosen by God to prepare the world for Him rejected Him. Although the Old Testament that they read and believed pointed to His coming, they refused to accept Him.

John said, “Even in His own land and among His own people He was not accepted.” How sad. John continues, “But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.”

This belief in Christ changes us from the inside out. When we become children of God, we become new people with new habits and hopes, new beliefs and behaviors, new attitudes and actions.

We must ask ourselves: Does my life show the world that I am part of God’s family by what I do and where I go?

Prayer: Help me, Heavenly Father, to walk in the world in a way that proves that I am Your child by what I do, and where I go. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: John 1:11-13

The judge released a drunk saying, “I don’t want to see you in this court again, understand?”

But the man appeared the next day, as drunk as ever. “Didn’t I tell you,” demanded the judge, “that I didn’t want to see you in this court again?”

“That’s what I told the cop,” said the man, “but he wouldn’t listen.”

How’s that for passing the buck?

But you don’t have to stay the way you are. The Lord can change you, if you’re willing.

Your condition is immaterial. If you really want to change, the Lord has the power to do it.

St. Paul says, “When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!”

Prayer: I come to Thee, Lord Jesus, and accept Thee as my Savior. Live Thy life in me and love others through me. Help me daily to know Thee better and to serve Thee better: in Thy name. Amen.

Today's video devotional from Guido Gardens.

A man rushed out of a sales meeting and jumped into a cab. “Where to?” asked the driver.

“Anywhere,” he answered. “I have prospects everywhere.”

That’s the way it was with our Lord. Every one was a gold mine of possibilities.

Peter? A cursing coward? He became the most valuable apostle.

Mary Magdalene? A prostitute? But she became a clean Christian.

Matthew? Rich, but a thief? “Once a thief, always a thief?” No, he was changed and he wrote the gospel according to Matthew.

Every one’s life is changed for the better when Christ comes in.

Let Him into your life. He’s looking for you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to Thee just as I am. Cleanse me, melt me, mold me, and make me an overcoming Christian. Lead me to do Thy will at all times and at any cost: in Thy name. Amen.