Think back to your childhood. Imagine being corrected by a parent for perhaps the tenth time for something.
You don’t see the harm, as it feels innocent to you. Perhaps it’s as innocuous as not making your bed, resting your elbows on the table, or wearing your shoes inside the house.
“I won’t do it again. I promise.”
And you sincerely mean it. However, because it seems minor to you (and you perhaps enjoy it), once more you hear, “How many times have I told you …”
Ouch! We’ve failed once more!
Rather than empty promises, we must make a concerted effort to model our lives like our parents. Watch them. Behave as they do … our bed … our elbows … our shoes, if that’s what they ask. Only with a change of heart can we truly change our ways.
Living as a Christian is much the same.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV) reveals how we become new in Christ:
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Author Scott Beck writes in his book, Nothing Is Impossible, about falling into a behavior pattern that creates stumbling blocks in his life. Some of this comes from unedifying conversations with friends, poor meal choices, even a lackluster attitude toward life. He can’t climb out of the cesspool that swirls around him until he finds faith in God to “put on the new self.”
Then the change he is hoping for begins to manifest in his life.
This can work for you, too. You can’t stay in your old life and begin a new one at the same time. As the passage says, you must “put off your old self.” Change your eating habits, find what interests you in life, even distance yourself from the people that pull you back into your old ways.
It’s not always easy, but the new you will be a glory to behold. Give it a try today. Step 1: Accept salvation from Christ. Step 2: Model your life after the example of Jesus in the Word.
God holds out his hand to guide your way.
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