Lesson 4: A New Life in Jesus

“But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you My power, so that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” Exodus 9:16

Every day, people from all over the world deal with sickness, unemployment and heartbreak, among other things. What do they all have in common? They are all searching for God’s purpose in their life. Today we share one story of God’s mighty power in the midst of sickness.

The words were barely out of the doctor’s mouth before Joe had a flood of dread fall over him. “Cystic fibrosis.” The thoughts raced through his head: “I am not going to live a full life. How can I live a normal life? What does this all mean?” Most people diagnosed with this disease, including Joe’s mother, die before they reach 50 years of age. Since his diagnosis, Joe, a young man from the United States, has had to deal with the daily fear and anxiety. Being faced with his mortality at an early age meant that Joe started on a frantic journey to seek out spiritual answers.

After talking with a friend, Joe felt safe enough to ask him one of life’s biggest questions: How can I be sure I am saved? “When I have tried to study the Bible or hear about people being saved or talking about how important it is to be saved there is a voice that keeps saying, ‘Have you really been saved by God?’ It just seems too good to be true.’” Joe said. “I keep hearing it and I start to question my salvation…”


At this point in his life, Joe thought he was saved because he was raised in a Christian family. With the Gospel fully and clearly explained to him by his friend, Joe came to a startling realization: he had never put his full faith in Jesus as his Lord. “After what you had to say, I came to the conclusion that I really have not accepted Jesus and allowed Him to save me and bring me closer to God … Today I truly accepted Jesus as my Savior and the Lord of everything in my life. I prayed that He would help me get my life back on the path to God and that He would fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can have the life and personality a true Christian should have.”

This true acceptance of Christ started an undeniable fire in Joe that led to him becoming a missionary himself, a seminary student and eventually a pastor of his local church. Now, Joe is a reproducing believer who shepherds many to the ultimate truth of Jesus Christ as Lord. God was able to do all of this through a simple message to Joe and faithful work from his friend. As his life continues with uncertainty because of his disease, Joe can be assured in one thing: his life is hidden with Christ on high!

Pray: Lord, show me the purpose You have for my life. Mold me in Your ways and let me useful so that Your name will be proclaimed in all the earth. Amen.
Suggested scriptures to read: Ephesians 4:17-24, Jeremiah 29:11, Revelation 21:5-7
Memorize: 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”