Once we accept Christ Jesus as the way to God, Paul
instructs us to put off the old man who is corrupt and to put on the new man.
Ephesians 4:23
Ephesians 4:23
The new us is different. We are different in how we think
about God, life, others. Our minds are renewed.
We are different in how we act. We show mercy and kindness
more readily. We are forgiving, having a tender heart instead of a hard one.
We are different in our speech. We leave off filthy language
and slander and gossip. But rather use our words to encourage and build up.
We are different even down to our emotions. We give up our
right to be right and of being first.
Divinely Different
Daily Deciding
Taking off the old and putting on the new takes practice. It doesn’t come all at once like our redemption. It is a daily choice. As Jesus told us “take up your cross daily and follow me.”
Placing God's Word and wisdom before our own is hard. We have to practice, practice, practice, and sometimes we still fall flat on our faces. Thank goodness, we serve a loving God who knows all about us being human.
However, don't be discouraged. Through His Holy Spirit, he empowers us to become the new
man, the new us. And with every day that we choose Jesus and practice God's ways, the new man begins to fit and feel right.
So, let’s choose to practice our newness, choosing to be
different, choosing to follow Jesus every day.
Father,
Fill me with your Spirit so that I can live my life pleasing you. Let me put on the new man and help me to choose Jesus every day. May the difference in me, Lord, make a difference in others.
In Jesus name.
bym
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