LIVING AS FOLLOWERS OF JESUS (part-15)

HOW HAS BECOMING A CHRISTIAN CHANGED YOU?

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

MEDITATION:
When we have received salvation from the Lord, something incredible takes place.
In the blink of an eye, things look different to us; our attitudes change, and we have
new priorities in our lives.

Instead of being cynical and critical of others, we have a desire to be an encourager
to others (even strangers and some who re not our good friends). Our casual time
with the Lord is accelerated to a desire to draw near Him, to get to know Him better,
and to spend more time with Him.

Our gossip about others is replaced with a desire to focus on their good qualities.
Our anger and frustrations are replaced with a kindness and love for others.

The list could be quite long, but the bottom line is, when we have received God’s
salvation, 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 hearts are changed as well. It’s impossible to live
pure lives until we have pure hearts. Some people today are trying to put the cart
before the horse. They are teaching purity of motives, desires, and actions to our
old, deceitful, and unchanged hearts. It’s no surprise we have ended up with such
moral failures, regardless of our highly-touted knowledge and psychological tactics.

Pure motives, desires, and actions are by-products of pure hearts. Pure hearts will
be more Christ-like; they will know His mindset and allow it to dwell within them.
It’s God’s desire for us to be conformed to the image of His Son. That means we
will think, talk, and act more like Him.

It means that we will develop the types of attitudes that define Jesus. If Christ lives
within us, and our bodies become a home that welcomes His Spirit, then we should
not be surprised when we start becoming more like Christ Jesus. It may not happen
immediately, but when God saves us, He begins a sanctification process to remove
unrighteousness and increase our righteousness.
    Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are
    wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
    (2 Corinthians 4:16)

ACTION:
Questions to consider:
    – Has my mind been changed and made new?
    – Do I look at things in a similar manner that Jesus Christ does?
    – Has God’s merciful salvation caused a dramatic change in me?
    – Have I detected significant changes in my thoughts, words, actions, and attitudes?

If the answer to these questions is, “No”, then what areas of your life have you
failed to surrender to the Lord? What do you plan to do about it? Jesus has
said that some will convince themselves they have been saved, but they have not
been changed (which should be evident in those who have received God’s salvation).

Some have lived their lives convinced that they are destined for Heaven, but find
out (too late!) that they are not, and they will instead spend eternity separated  
from the One they thought they knew, while they suffer eternal pain and agony.
    “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom
      of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is
      in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not
      prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in
      your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly,
      ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
      (Matthew 7:21-23)

Do you still drink, use profanity, commit sexual sins, steal, have uncontrolled anger,
gossip, find fault in others, tell lies, consider yourself better than others, treat others
rudely or abusively, ignore those who need encouragement (especially those who don’t
seem to “fit in”), have a lack a love for others, have sinful addictions, etc. etc.? If any
of these are true, then it’s probably an indication that the Lord has not changes you.

We need to change our destiny from one that will hear the Lord say,
    “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers”
    (Matthew 7:23)
to a new destiny where we will hear the Lord say,
    “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
    (Matthew 25:21)
and we can say to ourselves,
    “I have fought the good fight, I have
      finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
      (2 Timothy 4:7)

None of us want to become one of those Jesus ‘never knew’. If we have not
been changed (really changed) as a result of our profession of faith, then
we need to do something about it…and we need to do it now! We need to
consider it as a choice that our life depends on, because it does.

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 me that are still holding on to some 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.”

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