Begin Again

by Max Lucado

  If Adam had not sinned, he would not have died. But he did, so he died.

  As do we. Our sin isolates us from God. Left alone we are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1 NKJV) and consequently “separated from the life of God” (Eph. 4:18).

  Spiritual death—the soul separated from God.

  Physical death—the soul separated from the body.

  So what do we do?

  Jesus invites us to believe that “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

  Christ restores what Adam and Eve lost, in the same order they lost it. He reconnects the soul to God, then the body to the soul.

  He restores our souls with God when we believe in him: “You who were far away from God are brought near through the blood of Christ’s death” (Eph. 2:13 NCV).

  He will rejoin our souls with our bodies upon his second coming. Those who die prior to his return pass immediately to their eternal destinies. We know this because of passages like the one in which John sees in heaven “the souls of all who had been martyred” (Rev. 6:9 NLT). Paul equated residence with God as absence from the body. “We really want to be away from this body and be at home with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8 NCV). In the era between our deaths and Christ’s return, our souls are separated from the flesh. But when Christ comes, “all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned” (John 5:28–29).

  But how do we know this will happen? Why trust this as a truth? What gives credence to this claim of Christ’s?

  The empty tomb does. “Since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died” (1 Thess. 4:14 NLT).

  When Jesus vacated the tomb, he robbed it of its power. Death may touch us, but it cannot have us.

  A family was on a picnic when a bumblebee flew near the table. The mother jumped up to shoo it away from her son. He was allergic to bees. He could die if stung. The insect avoided her and flew even closer to the boy. The father stood up and stepped over. Quick-thinking, and quick-handed, he snatched the bee out the air.

  After a moment, with a grimace on his face, the dad let the bee go. The boy became upset and ran from the table. The dad calmed him, saying, “Don’t worry, Son. You don’t have to be afraid.”

  The father showed his son the palm of his hand that was beginning to swell, and he revealed the stinger. “It’s okay. Now all he can do is buzz. This is what could have hurt you, but I took the sting away.”

  So did Jesus. That’s why Paul could ask, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55–57).

  Because of Christ’s resurrection, all death can do is buzz.

  Trust him, won’t you?

  Trust him to take your life and turn it into a life worthy of heaven. Thanks to him, you and I can begin again.

  Questions for Reflection

  PREPARED BY ANDREA LUCADO

  Part 1

  Believe Your Trustworthy God

  Think of an instance when you experienced a new beginning in an area of your life. What was that beginning, and how did it help you start over?

  What new beginning do you need in your life right now? Is anything holding you back from believing a new beginning is possible? If so, what?

  How do you hope Begin Again will help you with that new beginning?

  How do we compare to the tree stump Max described on pages 1–3?

  Second Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (ESV). Have you experienced being transformed from one degree of glory to another? If so, what did that transformation look like?

  Referring to this type of transformation, Max says, “Expect to be scrubbed, sanded, and varnished a time or two or ten. But in the end the result will be worth the discomfort. You’ll be grateful” (p. 3). How do you feel about that statement? Does it make you nervous, excited, hesitant? Why?

  Considering your answer to the first part of question 2, are you willing to undergo this type of transformation in order to have a new beginning in that area of your life? Why or why not?

  Chapter 1

  Trust Your Shepherd

  Max explains that life often feels like a jungle: “But our jungles are comprised of the thicker thickets of contagious diseases, broken hearts, and empty wallets. Our forests are framed with hospital walls and divorce courts” (p. 7). When was the last time life felt disorienting, confusing, as if you couldn’t see your way out? Perhaps you feel that way now.

  What circumstances prompted these feelings?

  What does Max say is often the result of feeling lost in our “jungles”? (See p. 7.)

  When you hear the word hopelessness, what do you think of, and why? What areas of your life feel hopeless right now?

  Max asks, “What would it take to restore your hope? What would you need to reenergize your journey?” (p. 7). How would you answer those questions?

  What three things does Max suggest we need in order to restore our hope when we’re in the jungles of life? Of these three which do you need most right now, and why?

  How would this restore your hope in the face of a seemingly hopeless situation?

  When Jesus is our rescuer, we can trust he has the right vision to restore our hope and deliver us from the jungle. Read these reminders from Scripture: “Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ. . . . See things from his perspective” (Col. 3:2 THE MESSAGE).

  “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

  where does my help come from?

  My help comes from the LORD,

  the Maker of heaven and earth.

  “He will not let your foot slip—

  he who watches over you will not slumber. . . .

  “The LORD watches over you . . .

  the sun will not harm you by day,

  nor the moon by night.

  “The LORD will keep you from all harm—

  he will watch over your life.” (Ps. 121:1–7)

  According to these passages, where should we focus our gaze?

  Where should it not be?

  Write down everything the Lord will do, according to Psalm 121:1–7.

  How could these promises restore your hope today?

  Chapter 2

  Give Your Fears to Your Father

  The description of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his crucifixion is painful to imagine. These verses give us a clear sense of Jesus’ suffering: “He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.’ He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him” (Mark 14:33–35 NKJV).

  “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44 NKJV).

  In your own words describe how Jesus must have felt.

  How does this image of Jesus differ from other images we have of him in the Gospels or from the way you typically imagine him?

  What did Max say we should do with this image of Jesus? (See p. 7.)

  Though no human pain could truly equal the suffering of Jesus, describe a time you felt an extreme level of fear. What happened? How did you react physically, emotionally?

  Fill in the blank: “The first one to hear his fear is his ________” (p. 13). Who is typically the first one to hear your fear, and why?

  Do you typically take your fears to God? Why or wh
y not?

  Jesus was specific when he said, “Take away this cup of suffering” (Luke 22:42 NCV). Max encourages us to be equally precise when we take our fears to God. What specific fear do you need to pray about right now?

  In Psalm 23:4 David wrote, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Why was David able to say he would fear no evil?

  How could you find comfort in God today as David did in this passage?

  Chapter 3

  Seeing with Eyes Closed

  According to this chapter what blind spot do we all have? (See p. 16.) How do you personally cope with an unknown future? Do you try to guess what will happen? Do you avoid thinking about it or obsess over it? Explain your answer.

  Is there an unknown in your life that is causing fear or anxiety? If so, what is that unknown, and why is it causing you unrest?

  Although Jairus was the leader of the synagogue and held a prominent place in his community, when his daughter fell ill, how did he approach Jesus in Mark 5:23? Have you ever felt this way—as Max describes it, “when everything you have to offer is nothing compared to what you are asking to receive” (p. 18)? If so, describe the situation.

  What were you pleading for?

  Whom did you plead with—God, Jesus, a friend, someone else?

  How might Jairus have felt when he was told, “Your daughter is dead. There is no need to bother the teacher anymore” (Mark 5:35 NCV)? Have you ever been given a hopeless message? How did you respond?

  What was Jesus’ response in Mark 5:36? Why might he have responded as he did?

  Jesus ignored the voices telling him Jairus’s daughter was already dead. Have you ever struggled with the voices of those around you saying that your situation was hopeless? If so, how did those voices affect you?

  Jesus told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe” (v. 36). What would change if you heeded Jesus’ words even as the voices around you are encouraging otherwise? What do you need to believe in today?

  What do you not want to fear anymore?

  Max says, “When tragedy strikes, we, too, are left to choose what we see. We can see either the hurt or the Healer” (p. 19). What do you typically choose to see, or what are you choosing to see right now in a difficult unknown?

  What did Jesus do with the people who were claiming Jairus’s daughter was dead? (See v. 40.) What voices do you need to throw out today?

  How could Jesus help you do this?

  Chapter 4

  Don’t Give Up

  Name a failure in your life. If this is a recent failure, how did it feel to fail? If this is a failure in your past, how do you feel now when you think about this failure?

  Has any failure—past or present—led you to believe you can’t begin again in an area of your life? What are the consequences of not beginning again in that area? What might be possible if you did begin again in that area?

  Scripture is full of stories of people who failed God and others. Read Luke 15:11–18. How had the prodigal son failed? Does his failure have any similarities with yours? If so, what?

  What had transpired in the story before he decided, “I will arise and go to my father” (NKJV)?

  Have you ever had a turning point in your own failure—a moment when you decided to remove yourself from the pigpen of regret and shame and turn to God? If so, how did God respond?

  Are you in a moment of similar need? What would convince you to ask God to help you escape the pigpen of regret and shame? How could you turn to God?

  Read the rest of the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:18–24. How did the father respond to his son? What does this say about how God responds to us when we turn to him in our pigpen moments?

  What does this say about our failures and new beginnings?

  Chapter 5

  Follow the God Who Follows You

  Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (NKJV). Max breaks down the promises behind key phrases and words in this verse. What does the word surely promise us?

  What does the phrase “goodness and mercy” promise us?

  What does it mean for God to follow us?

  Have you ever experienced this persistence from God? If so, how?

  Max mentions several characters from the Bible whom God pursued. Read more about one of these characters in John 4:1–26. How did Jesus pursue the Samaritan woman with his words and actions?

  How did the woman respond?

  Why do you think Jesus revealed his divine identity to this woman?

  Max tells the story of Eric, a homeless man whose sister, Debbie, found him near the end of his life. How did Debbie’s pursuit of Eric parallel God’s pursuit of us?

  How could trusting that God is pursuing you all the days of your life give you hope for a new beginning today?

  Part 2 | Enjoy God’s Good Gifts

  Chapter 6

  Accept the Gift of Himself

  What is making you weary right now—a relationship, job, circumstances? Describe this kind of weariness and how it affects your daily life.

  You could say Job was weary. He experienced every hardship a man could. Read Job 1:13–22 and 2:7–10. What and whom did Job lose in these passages? List them below.

  Have you ever been through a Job season, where it seemed that everything in your life was in disarray? If so, what was hardest about that season?

  What hardships did you endure?

  Did you talk to God during this time? If so, how did you approach him? With anger? Arguments? Pleading? Questions?

  Job’s friends tried to find a reason for his suffering. Eliphaz said, “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off? Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of His anger they are consumed” (Job 4:7–9 NKJV). Bildad said, “How long will you speak these things, and the words of your mouth be like a strong wind? Does God subvert judgment? Or does the Almighty pervert justice? If your sons have sinned against Him, He has cast them away for their transgression. If you would earnestly seek God and make your supplication to the Almighty, if you were pure and upright, surely now He would awake for you, and prosper your rightful dwelling place” (Job 8:2–6 NKJV).

  Elihu said, “He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, and his life shall see the light. Behold, God works all these things, twice, in fact, three times with a man, to bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life” (Job 33:28–30 NKJV).

  What was Eliphaz’s reasoning for Job’s suffering?

  What was Bildad’s reasoning?

  What was Elihu’s reasoning?

  Do you agree or disagree with what these friends told Job?

  When you are suffering, what questions do you tend to ask God?

  Now read God’s response in Job 38:4–11 to the question of Job’s suffering. What does Max say was the purpose of God’s questions for Job? (See pp. 47–48.) How did these questions and statements from God help Job understand his suffering?

  How could shifting your perspective from questioning God to believing in God’s sovereignty help you in times of suffering?

  Job eventually got an opportunity to begin again. His story ended with hope: “And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10 NKJV). Have you ever experienced a new beginning after a dark season of suffering? If so, did your new beginning refine your view of the suffering season? If so, how?

  How could Job’s new beginning bring you hope in whatever season of weariness or suffering you are in today?

  Chapter 7

  Rely on the Holy Spirit

  What do you know about the Holy Spirit? What role does the Holy Spirit play in your life, if any?

  Ephesi
ans 1:13–14 says, “You were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance” (NASB). What sorts of images does Max connect with the word sealed? (See p. 52.)

  Is there anyone in your life that you feel “sealed” to? Perhaps a spouse, longtime friend, or relative? If so, describe that relationship and how being sealed to this person affects your confidence in that relationship.

  How could the relationship you just described help you better understand your relationship with the Holy Spirit and his purpose in your life?

  Read the following verses in Romans. “The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God. With that Spirit we cry out, ‘Father.’ And the Spirit himself joins with our spirits to say we are God’s children” (Rom. 8:15–16 NCV).

  “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:5 NKJV).

  “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness. We do not even know how we ought to pray, . . . but through our inarticulate groans the Spirit himself is pleading for us, and God who searches our inmost being knows what the Spirit means, because he pleads for God’s own people in God’s own way” (Rom. 8:26–27 NEB).