A Whole New Way to Live

Nature offers us a picture of God’s ability to renew and transform lives. Two great examples are the transformations of the caterpillar to butterfly and the tad pole to a frog. This proves that some things get ugly before they ever become beautiful.

Renew in my simple way of looking at it means – changing into something new and different – something much better.  This speaks to our Heart, Mind, Emotions, and Will.

Colossians 3:1 “…set your heart on things above.”

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above…”

A Whole new way to live! 

Renewal calls for Overcoming

We have to overcome our personal struggle points. “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature…” Colossians 3:5a.  This means we are learning to rid ourselves of the old nature, old self, old emotions, old patterns. “You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.” Colossians 3:7.

“But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” Colossians 3:8

This speaks of a renewal that is possible for the Christ follower:

·         You can go from anger to compassion

·         You can go from fighting to focused

·         You can go from Addictions to freedom

·         You can go from bitterness to health

·         You can go from confusion to calmness

·         You can go from shame to peace

Then I love this in verse 9 – “don’t lie to each other…” In other words don’t sit there and act pious like you’ve never been through these emotions, reactions, attitudes, and failures.  We all need renewal.

A Total Renovation Of Your Life Is Only Possible Thru Jesus!

“…put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” (Col. 3: 10-11)

Here’s the new way to live (the new goal for daily living in a Christ follower): v12-14

·         Compassion – this is not superficial in sentiment. Some of us think we are being compassionate when we offer up that Southern goodwill thought – “Bless your heart”. Come on now! That’s Southern for how can anyone be so dumb?  Compassion is deep felt from within toward another. Moves you to act on their behalf, for their betterment. We need to try this at home with your spouse, children…it will blow their minds!

·         Kindness – this is displayed in actions regardless if it ever gets returned. What will you do today that will express kindness to someone – once again try this at home first. Why should the lady/fellow at the gas station be the only one to see our kind side? Blow the minds of those closest to you with kindness.

·         Humility – putting others needs ahead of our own. Examples of the most humble ever are Moses and Jesus. The trouble with humility is that when you think you are finally humble you get proud of that humility and lose it. Focus on putting others first in your life and serving them and the Lord will take care of the humility.

·         Gentleness – is more inward that outwardly displayed: “Rather it is an inwrought grace of the soul; and the exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God. It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting;” (Vines)

O how tough this is when we are in the middle of struggles. I did not say these are easy just necessary. We cannot see the end results.

LJ and I discussed how it seems that many who believe not appear to be blessed in this world while His followers struggle…if this world is all there is then this is not fair!! However, there is eternity to come. His followers may struggle today and the trade off is bliss in eternity. 

·         Patience -  synonyms: endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs. I really want to be patient. I just wish it did not take so long to get here. Could it be that the Lord placed you in the family you are in to teach this? Maybe it is in your job? Your neighborhood?

Once again consider this fact - A Total Renovation Of Your Life Is Only Possible Thru Jesus!

This way of living will impact your heart, mind, emotions, will.