"Whatever we do, it is because Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live."
If you are a believer, in what ways have you died to the old life you used to live?
As I’ve written before, becoming a parent changed what media influences I allow in my life. Since college, I’ve watched the local news at noon on the CBS affiliate to stay informed. About when my oldest child turned two, I realized that the police beat stories at the top of the news were too graphic for his wide blue eyes and eager ears, much less the commercials for CSI: Miami in between. Since we have Dish Network, I can hit “Info” and a blue box covers most of the screen. So I’ve learned to hit mute during the top of the news, and to block out commercials with the info screen. Now that I’ve practiced this for a few years, I know the graphic content isn’t necessary for me, either.
Dying to our old lives is a process, not a one-time shot. Maybe you or someone you knew had a dramatic, Saul-like conversion from a blatantly sinful lifestyle. Or maybe you’ve been a Christian all your life, but as you’ve grown in your faithwalk, your conscience has been pricked and you don’t do the same things anymore. Maybe you cut back on drinking or you gave up toxic friendships. Maybe you catch yourself before your conversation turns to gossip, or you skip the soap operas in favor of a non-racy novel.
Whatever it is, if you’re already doing something different and you’re a believer, it’s probably because you’re being made more like Christ. But if you’re resisting the temptation to return to your worldly lifestyle, you must rely on Jesus to provide the help you need…otherwise you’re on your own! It’s risky to rely on willpower, because we’re all naturally bent toward sin. So ask God to help you become less like the world and more like Jesus today. He will always answer that prayer in a practical way, if you are willing to accept his help.
The world needs to know more salty and bright-light Christians (see Matthew 5:13-16). It’s important that if you call yourself a follower of Jesus, your lifestyle is different from that of the world. If your lifestyle hasn’t become more holy as your faith has grown, ask God to examine your heart and show you ways that you can die to any habits that aren’t Christlike. Your lifestyle could have an eternal impact on the people who know you, so ask yourself again: in what ways have you died to the old life you used to live?
Copyright 2009
Showing posts with label conscience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conscience. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
1 Corinthians 2:12
"And God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world's spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us."
This verse builds on yesterday's focus verse, and it explains how Christians can recognize the message of the cross as the very power of God. I also enjoy Paul's further explanation in today's reading, 1 Cor. 2:14-16.
I find it incredible and amazing that a person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit himself, takes up residence in a believer's heart. When I consider it, I wonder how I ever get discouraged or weary at all! Yet as the Bible says, I am like a common clay vessel (prone to weakness), but I am filled with the power of God through the Holy Spirit. It's wonderful!
How does the Holy Spirit work in your life? This is how I've found him to work in mine. One example: I will pray for God's wisdom and guidance on a certain topic. Then, in the next few days or weeks, I will hear a certain song regarding the topic, or it will show up in the Sunday sermon, or it will "just happen" to come up as the topic of a radio broadcast. And of course, it will pop up in my daily Bible reading as well. The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways, but they are wonderful ways too. Rarely does God speak directly to me today like he did to people in the Old Testament. But He speaks to me through my current connections, if I ask for the Holy Spirit's help and avail myself to good resources.
Another way the Holy Spirit works in my life is by pricking my conscience. As my faith has grown, especially since I've become a parent, it's become easier to recognize the world's spirit working through music, television, and movies. I don't want to expose my children to the world's spirit in the media any sooner than necessary, and as they grow, I plan to teach them critical thinking skills to evaluate what they see and hear. So I carefully monitor our family television viewing and what's playing on the radio in the van. But I've also learned that what isn't good for my children isn't good for me either, because I am God's child, as they are. That's why I try to read movie reviews before I watch a movie, to discern whether it will be pleasing to God for me to expose myself to certain images or ideas, even as an adult. This is a major change compared to what I listened to and watched before I became a mother. And I credit it all to the Holy Spirit sensitizing my conscience. Has your conscience become more sensitive lately?
Today, I'm going to ask God to send his Spirit so I can know the wonderful things He's freely given me. Will you do the same?
Copyright 2009
This verse builds on yesterday's focus verse, and it explains how Christians can recognize the message of the cross as the very power of God. I also enjoy Paul's further explanation in today's reading, 1 Cor. 2:14-16.
I find it incredible and amazing that a person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit himself, takes up residence in a believer's heart. When I consider it, I wonder how I ever get discouraged or weary at all! Yet as the Bible says, I am like a common clay vessel (prone to weakness), but I am filled with the power of God through the Holy Spirit. It's wonderful!
How does the Holy Spirit work in your life? This is how I've found him to work in mine. One example: I will pray for God's wisdom and guidance on a certain topic. Then, in the next few days or weeks, I will hear a certain song regarding the topic, or it will show up in the Sunday sermon, or it will "just happen" to come up as the topic of a radio broadcast. And of course, it will pop up in my daily Bible reading as well. The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways, but they are wonderful ways too. Rarely does God speak directly to me today like he did to people in the Old Testament. But He speaks to me through my current connections, if I ask for the Holy Spirit's help and avail myself to good resources.
Another way the Holy Spirit works in my life is by pricking my conscience. As my faith has grown, especially since I've become a parent, it's become easier to recognize the world's spirit working through music, television, and movies. I don't want to expose my children to the world's spirit in the media any sooner than necessary, and as they grow, I plan to teach them critical thinking skills to evaluate what they see and hear. So I carefully monitor our family television viewing and what's playing on the radio in the van. But I've also learned that what isn't good for my children isn't good for me either, because I am God's child, as they are. That's why I try to read movie reviews before I watch a movie, to discern whether it will be pleasing to God for me to expose myself to certain images or ideas, even as an adult. This is a major change compared to what I listened to and watched before I became a mother. And I credit it all to the Holy Spirit sensitizing my conscience. Has your conscience become more sensitive lately?
Today, I'm going to ask God to send his Spirit so I can know the wonderful things He's freely given me. Will you do the same?
Copyright 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)