I love the change of seasons. Something about growing up in the North leaves me longing for a sweatshirt during football season. It’s nice to see a hint of color on these Texas trees!
Nature follows its course, knowing when the time comes to change. However, when it comes to reflecting on my own, personal life…why is it sometimes difficult to see a change? We are told to “put off our old self” in Ephesians 4:22. This is a deliberate action. I have to make a decision “put on my new self.”
“But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self,[a] which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self,created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:20-24
I appreciate the word of Paul pointing out the daily battle we all have with sin. Despite being made a new creation, we still wrestle with our old ways. Bad thoughts. Wrong attitudes. Sinful pleasures. Misplaced identities. And the list could go on and on. Although we have been made new through the regenerative work of Jesus Christ, there is still an old self hanging around which we often revert to. We revert to our old stinkin’ thinkin’, causing us to sin.
Taking a step in the right direction means, first of all, recognizing you are sinful. And Jesus loves sinners. Reflecting on our lives and confessing our sin to one another is a step in the right direction. If we truly are repentant, we will want to turn away from our sin.
Secondly, it means “putting on the new self.” Begin believing God is who He says He is and He can do what He says He can do. Begin believing you have been made new. You are no longer bound by your sin, but instead, you have been set free. The spirit of God is living inside of you, renewing you and transforming you into the image of God. Take a step towards believing God’s Word as truth. Here’s a few things He has to say about you as a believer:
Christ accepts you. Revelation 3:20; John 6:37
You have been given eternal life. John 5:24, John 10:28
God forgives you. 1 John 1:7-9, Isaiah 1:18
God is faithful to you. Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10
God comforts you. Psalm 23
Jesus is always with you. Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5-6
God protects you from harm. Psalm 91, Psalm 121
God gives you courage. Hebrews 13:5-6, Ephesians 6:10-18
God gives you wisdom. James 1:5
God gives us strength to refuse temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:6-13, James 1:12-16
God answers your prayers. John 15:7
God gives us peace of mind. Philippians 4:6-7
God guides our steps. Psalm 32:8-9
God relieves us from suffering. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
God will give you rest. Matthew 11:28-29
Let’s start believing we have been made new…and take a step of faith by living it! God bless you today as you go forth and live a changed life!