Comment: Some saints
find it is hard to leave the “old self” behind. Leaving old habits and
life-styles that were once considered normal can be a life long struggle. Some folks
never leave the old way and carry their baggage sin with them where ever they
may go. They never seek to heed the voice of the apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself
to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God
in Christ Jesus. We will
seek to understand this challenge that we all face over the next week.
Devotional: Last week we looked at several issues in the
church and in our personal lives that cripple the effectiveness of the gospel
of God in Christ. Christ/Messiah is to be preached, after all, the church is
the body of Christ and we individually are the temple of the Holy Spirit and
where the Spirit of God IS, there also is Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17). This
then ought to be a powerful spiritual incentive to leave behind our past life
of sin because the veil has been removed.
It is the glory of God to
give His Children, (through the Living Word of God) a Christ-like character. Yet,
unlike being saved by God’s grace (a once for all event), putting on a
Christ-like character is a daily step of personal faith a (lifetime daily
event). The apostle Paul says this in nearly every epistle he wrote; Romans
13:14; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:10;
Philippians 3:12-16 and Colossians 3:1-4.
Now I am sure that if you
search out the scripture you will find many more challenges from the Word of
God to direct your mind to a godly character. If you wish to lay aside the
things of the world, you will let this mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus. Now why would our Father want us to have the mind of Christ? Could it be
the enhance the production of our old habits and lifestyles, God forbid! Jesus
was humbled and then exalted. The Father has the same plan for you, let God
humble you and in due time He will also exalt you.
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