HOW HAS BECOMING A CHRISTIAN CHANGED YOU?

SCRIPTURE:
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” 
(Philippians 2:5)

MEDITATION:
When we have a saving experience with the Lord, 
something incredible takes place.
All of a sudden, things look different to us, 
our attitudes change, and we have brand new priorities in our lives.
Instead of being cynical and critical of others, 
we have a desire to encourage them.

Our casual time with the Lord is accelerated to a desire to draw near Him, 
get to know Him better, and spend more time with Him.
Our gossip about others is replaced with discussing their good qualities.
Anger is replaced with a love for others.

The list could be quite long, but the bottom line is, we have a renewed mind.
Why? Because we are no longer influenced by the world, but by the Lord.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing 
of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his 
good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

When our mind is renewed, our heart is changed as well.
It is impossible to live pure lives until we have pure hearts. 
Many people today are trying to put the cart before the horse. 
They are teaching purity of motives, desires, 
and actions to old, deceitful hearts. 
It is no surprise we have ended up with such moral failures, 
in spite of our vaunted knowledge and psychological approaches.

Pure motives, desires, and actions are by-products of pure hearts. 
Pure hearts will be Christ-like; 
they will allow His mindset to dwell within them. 
It is God’s desire that we be conformed to the image of His Son.
That means that we will think, talk, and act more like Him.
It means that we will develop the types of attitudes that define Him. 
If Christ lives within us and our bodies become the home of the Holy Spirit, 
then we should not be surprised that we start becoming more like Christ Jesus.

ACTION:
Has your mind been changed?
Do you have a mind similar to the mind of Christ Jesus?
Has God’s merciful salvation caused a dramatic change in you?
If the answer to these questions is, “No”, then what areas of your life
have you failed to surrender to the Lord?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your salvation to all those who surrender 
their lives to You. I pray that You would renew the parts of my that are still 
holding on to worldly values. Cleanse my heart and create in me a comfortable 
place for the Holy Spirit to reside. Show me where I am failing to surrender 
to You. Help me to enjoy the new mind You are creating in me. Help me to 
appreciate how the new person You are making of me, will have a positive 
impact on others and point them to Jesus.”