What is it about something shiny and new that we are attracted to?  We all look forward to Christmas because we look forward to all the new presents, new clothes, and new toys.  We look forward to shiny jewelry.  You know there’s something about shiny, sparkly, new jewelry and watches.  When we wear a new watch, we want to buff it up, make it shiny.  How about dress shoes?  We want to wipe them down and buff them up.  We want them shiny.  We have new shoes, new clothes, new jewelry, new watches, new bike, new car, new Xbox, new remote, which are all like shiny and new.  I mean who doesn’t want shiny and new?  When it comes to material items, I mean we certainly don’t want them busted and old.

Think with me for a minute, take for instance a very poor, homeless person.  They pretty much are ragged, weathered, old looking, dirty and busted.  That makes them feel old and busted.  I can guarantee that if you take that same person, clean them up, give him a shave, do their hair, put lotion on his face, dressed in new clothes, with shiny jewelry and watches, put them in a new car and bam, you got a shiny, new feeling, right?  Feeling like you can accomplish anything in the world…wrong.  All of that is our physical appearance or has to do with our material possessions.

What we need is a spiritual, shiny and new.  The Bible says in Ephesians 4:22 –24

“To put off or remove your old self which belongs to your former way of life and it is corrupt through deceitful desires and be renewed in the spirit and in mind and put on the new self-created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

So you see, just as much as we desire to have shiny and new in our physical life, we more so need shiny and new in our spiritual life.  You see, in the Word of God it requires us to do exactly that, become new and put the old away.  We do that through accepting Jesus into our lives and living a life chasing after Him, reading His word, doing what is right and acceptable to God.

The New Year is approaching us quickly.  My prayer is just as we desire shiny and new this upcoming Christmas, let’s demand a shiny and new self.  A New Year seeking after the One who came to save us.  Let’s put on our shiny and new, full armor of God and walk stronger, brighter, and more confident in this world.  Spread the love of Jesus to the lost, to this hurting world.  Let’s bring a sense of peace and hope to this world that is passing away.  The only way we can do that is to be shiny and new for the Lord Jesus Christ.  Go now be blessed and shine on!  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.