"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 faithwalk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faithwalk. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”
Such encouraging verses today. Our suffering isn’t pointless; it tests our faith, it conforms us to Christ’s likeness, it matures us—and it gives us a special opportunity to witness to others and build them up.
Have you ever cried out to God for comfort in a time of trial—sickness, grief, marriage issues, financial woes, oppression from enemies—and he answered you in a practical way? Maybe a friend called you up or your neighbor brought you a meal. Maybe an unexpected check arrived in the mail at just the right time. Maybe your pastor suggested a book that spoke directly to your issue. Those are all ways that God answers our cries for comfort.
I’ll bet the most comforting help you received is from someone who had experienced the same trial in the past. You don’t have to explain the whole story to this person; they understand just what you’re going through. They can listen and cry with you in a way that others can’t quite replicate. Isn’t it wonderful to know that God provides people to help us through our difficult times?
You are also one of those people! Think about the trials you’ve faced—write a list. Everything on your list can help someone going through the same thing. Some of the things on my list are: being a child of divorce, depression, codependency, marriage problems, financial difficulty, and being overweight. As I wrote in yesterday’s post, if I write out my faithwalk and remember how God has helped me with those issues, I have a testimony to share with others struggling with the same thing. It takes courage and authenticity to share my problems, but in doing so, I can help people, and that is such a gratifying way to recycle the pain.
Take some time today to list some ways you can comfort others based on the troubles you’ve faced.
If you are facing a trial right now and you feel alone, what steps can you take to find someone who has experienced what you are going through?
Copyright 2009
Such encouraging verses today. Our suffering isn’t pointless; it tests our faith, it conforms us to Christ’s likeness, it matures us—and it gives us a special opportunity to witness to others and build them up.
Have you ever cried out to God for comfort in a time of trial—sickness, grief, marriage issues, financial woes, oppression from enemies—and he answered you in a practical way? Maybe a friend called you up or your neighbor brought you a meal. Maybe an unexpected check arrived in the mail at just the right time. Maybe your pastor suggested a book that spoke directly to your issue. Those are all ways that God answers our cries for comfort.
I’ll bet the most comforting help you received is from someone who had experienced the same trial in the past. You don’t have to explain the whole story to this person; they understand just what you’re going through. They can listen and cry with you in a way that others can’t quite replicate. Isn’t it wonderful to know that God provides people to help us through our difficult times?
You are also one of those people! Think about the trials you’ve faced—write a list. Everything on your list can help someone going through the same thing. Some of the things on my list are: being a child of divorce, depression, codependency, marriage problems, financial difficulty, and being overweight. As I wrote in yesterday’s post, if I write out my faithwalk and remember how God has helped me with those issues, I have a testimony to share with others struggling with the same thing. It takes courage and authenticity to share my problems, but in doing so, I can help people, and that is such a gratifying way to recycle the pain.
Take some time today to list some ways you can comfort others based on the troubles you’ve faced.
If you are facing a trial right now and you feel alone, what steps can you take to find someone who has experienced what you are going through?
Copyright 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Psalm 40:5
“O Lord my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.”
As soon as I read these verses, I remembered my study of the life of Moses last year at Bible Study Fellowship. The children of Israel witnessed incredible miracles, like the parting of the Red Sea and manna coming down from heaven. The plan God had for them was marvelous: to move his chosen people to the Promised Land, where they could grow, prosper, and glorify the Lord.
The main theme that stood out in my year-long study was how quick the Israelites were to forget the amazing things God had done for them. They moaned and complained about the lack of water and food, even saying they would have been better off staying in Egypt, where they were harshly treated as slaves. As soon as Moses left them to go up Mount Sinai, they begged Aaron to make them a golden calf that they could worship instead of God. Again and again they promised to change their ways and obey God’s law, but they would turn right around and adopt the detestable practices of the neighboring countries, even as wicked as child sacrifice. Because of their unfaithfulness, many didn’t experience the blessings of God’s beautiful plan for them.
As I read about the Israelites, I found myself judging their behavior as atrocious and unbelievable. But I was quickly humbled as the BSF questions asked if I had ever strayed from the Lord or forgotten a lesson he had just taught me. One particular issue he’s helped me with is worry. Every time I worry, I take my focus off of God and put it on things that I feel are out-of-control. But when I take a deep breath and choose to focus on all the other things I worried about that God helped me through, it’s easier for my faith to stay on track. I don’t want to miss out on the good plans God has for me by putting up roadblocks with blatant sins.
All of us will quickly fall away from the Lord’s best plan for our lives if we don’t regularly count our blessings and remember what God has done for us. It’s important to write out the story of your faithwalk so you can tell others about the times God helped you and so your own faith will be strengthened in future trials.
One of my friends collects rocks with her daughter, and when they receive an answer to prayer or they reach a goal, they write on a rock to record the blessing. Occasionally they will look through the rocks and praise God for his faithfulness. I like this idea of physical reminders of past blessings that I can use to teach my children to remember God’s goodness.
Today, meditate on the miracles and wonderful deeds God has done in your life, and give him praise. If you are a parent, how do you plan to teach your children to remember the great things God does?
Copyright 2009
As soon as I read these verses, I remembered my study of the life of Moses last year at Bible Study Fellowship. The children of Israel witnessed incredible miracles, like the parting of the Red Sea and manna coming down from heaven. The plan God had for them was marvelous: to move his chosen people to the Promised Land, where they could grow, prosper, and glorify the Lord.
The main theme that stood out in my year-long study was how quick the Israelites were to forget the amazing things God had done for them. They moaned and complained about the lack of water and food, even saying they would have been better off staying in Egypt, where they were harshly treated as slaves. As soon as Moses left them to go up Mount Sinai, they begged Aaron to make them a golden calf that they could worship instead of God. Again and again they promised to change their ways and obey God’s law, but they would turn right around and adopt the detestable practices of the neighboring countries, even as wicked as child sacrifice. Because of their unfaithfulness, many didn’t experience the blessings of God’s beautiful plan for them.
As I read about the Israelites, I found myself judging their behavior as atrocious and unbelievable. But I was quickly humbled as the BSF questions asked if I had ever strayed from the Lord or forgotten a lesson he had just taught me. One particular issue he’s helped me with is worry. Every time I worry, I take my focus off of God and put it on things that I feel are out-of-control. But when I take a deep breath and choose to focus on all the other things I worried about that God helped me through, it’s easier for my faith to stay on track. I don’t want to miss out on the good plans God has for me by putting up roadblocks with blatant sins.
All of us will quickly fall away from the Lord’s best plan for our lives if we don’t regularly count our blessings and remember what God has done for us. It’s important to write out the story of your faithwalk so you can tell others about the times God helped you and so your own faith will be strengthened in future trials.
One of my friends collects rocks with her daughter, and when they receive an answer to prayer or they reach a goal, they write on a rock to record the blessing. Occasionally they will look through the rocks and praise God for his faithfulness. I like this idea of physical reminders of past blessings that I can use to teach my children to remember God’s goodness.
Today, meditate on the miracles and wonderful deeds God has done in your life, and give him praise. If you are a parent, how do you plan to teach your children to remember the great things God does?
Copyright 2009
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