20-DAY CHALLENGE: LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (DAY-11)

20-DAY CHALLENGE: LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE (Day-11)

WE CANNOT BECOME A CHRISTIAN AND NOT BECOME A NEW PERSON

BIBLE PASSAGE:
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(2 Corinthians 5:17)

MEDITATION:
The scriptures give us many promises that are true
regardless of whether or not we believe them.
Some want to refute God’s Word as truth,
but will admit that it has many ‘feel good’ messages.

When we believe in God, we believe in His Word,
and we know that the Bible contains
much more than ‘feel good’ messages.
We discover guidelines for living
a life of peace, happiness, righteousness and much more.

Why would God give us His messages and
protect the survival of the Bible for so many years?
It is because He loves us and
wants us to have the best life has to offer.
However, we have to make some life changing decisions
in order to enjoy the new way of living that He offers us.

The world says that ‘all we need to do
is be decent, respectable, and reasonable’.
That is true if our desire is to be a member of the Great Society,
but to belong to the Kingdom of God, there must be an inner change.
We have to turn our back to the ‘old things’
so we can enjoy the ‘new things’ promised to those
who believe in the Lord and His sacrifice for our sins

The word ‘behold’ means to watch, to view, to observe, etc.
That means that believers have something to look forward to;
something new that we have never experienced before.
That is a promise from God
that should excite every Christian in the world.

We become a ‘new creature’
with new habits, priorities, attitudes and the like.
Imagine the joy of exchanging an internal, selfish focus
for an outward attention toward others and their well-being.
Instead of trying to find delight in pleasing ourselves,
we learn how to enjoy contributing to the happiness of others.

The Lord has given me well over 1500 devotionals (and adding
to them daily) for my enjoyment, and for sharing with others.
It has changed my mornings from a time of dreading to
get out of bed, to a time of looking forward to what He
wants to communicate to me, and others.

My excitement is increased
each time I receive feedback from those who read His messages.
Imagine the delight I feel whenever someone sends me an email,
or leaves a comment regarding how one of God’s messages has
impacted their life.

It assures me that God not only provides
the content for the devotionals, but He is
using them in ways that I cannot even imagine.

There was a Communist in Hyde Park, London,
who pointed to a tramp and said,
“Communism will put a new suit on that man.”
A Christian who was standing nearby said,
“Yes, but Christ will put a new man in that suit!”

ACTION:
How has the Lord changed your life?
Have you become a ‘new creature’,
or are you still clinging to ‘old things’?
God has promised you a new life when you ‘surrender’ to Him.

You too can enjoy the pleasure and excitement
of becoming an encourager to others.
And when you do, you give others the opportunity
to see past you to the One you believe in and serve;
and when they do, they will know that your faith is genuine.
“He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30)

I have been leading Bible Study discussions for around forty years
and from time to time, I issue a challenge to us when we meet together.
Here is one of the challenges I have given in the past:
‘Look for an opportunity to encourage at least one person this week’.
This is one way of replacing selfishness with selflessness.

Don’t allow Satan to convince you to procrastinate and think
“I’ll try it one day”, but make specific plans to do it this week.
And just to spice up the challenge a bit, say something
encouraging to someone you may not like very much.

When you accept the challenge, you might be pleasantly
surprised at their reaction, and the way you feel personally.
Don’t get discouraged if they don’t react in a positive manner,
but be pleased to know that you did what God wants you to do,
regardless of how they respond.
This one gesture might be another
stepping stone in your becoming a ‘new creature’.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise of the changes
deep within me whenever I submit to You and Your will for me.
Teach me to become less selfish and more selfless. Help me to
realize that I must become less in order for You to become greater.
Guide me in becoming the new creature You have promised I can
be. Help me to let go of the old things and to embrace the new
things from You.”