Derek continues this study today by looking at the importance of meditating on God’s Word. As you meditate on it day and night, doing all that is written in it, your way will be made prosperous and you will have good success. Derek puts it this way: Think God’s Word, speak God’s Word, and act God’s Word. A very important lesson!

Today’s Derek focuses on the importance of keeping our eyes on Jesus. We must see Him as our example and not let anything deter us from attaining the goal set before us—to complete this life as God wants. Jesus, as the Author and Finisher of our faith, is our righteousness, our example of suffering, and our resurrection. As we walk through this life, it is imperative that we keep our focus on Him.

Derek begins today’s study with a basic principle which is: If you want God’s best, want God’s best. Want it—settle for nothing less! Derek uses the example of Jacob and Esau to show how God feels about the one who strives after His blessings. The other is described as “godless” as he despised his birthright.

In today’s study Derek points out that God wants us all to be fruitful, and He has provided all that we need through our knowledge of Him. Provision comes through knowing Jesus Christ and appropriating the promises of God’s Word.

Today Derek begins a study confronting us with a decision: Do we want God’s best in our lives or are we willing to settle for second best? In Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, there were four types of soil, only one of which produced lasting results. That was the good soil. We must aim to be good soil, for what we achieve will depend on the response of our heart.

In this final day of our study, Derek looks at how the ark carried Noah and his family continuously through to salvation, and compares this to how we are first saved and likewise continuously carried through, shielded by the power of God, preserved unto a new inheritance that cannot spoil or fade or perish.

As we near the end of this study of “A New Beginning,” Derek draws from the example of the ark built by Noah to show us our new beginning in Jesus Christ. The preparation and completion of the ark was perfect; so was Jesus. As Noah had to enter the ark for salvation, so must we enter into Christ; and when the destruction is past, we emerge into a new world with a new start.

Today Derek looks at the culminating step in this study, becoming heirs of eternal life. We have been delivered from an evil inheritance and brought into this new one that is full of hope. We have a life to look forward to with Christ in it. It is Christ in us, the hope of glory!

Our next assignment is understanding that we have been justified or made righteous with God through the death and resurrection of Jesus. All the evil due to us was put upon Jesus so we would not have to experience it. The record of our sin is blotted out so we can have a new start in life.

Derek continues to look at the steps taken for our new beginning. He explains the two experiences of the Holy Spirit: the inner work of the new birth and the outer work of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The inner work qualifies us for heaven, and the baptism is the supernatural infilling of power, equipping us for life on earth.