I was thinking about 2007 and all that had happened and the places we had been. Then I realized that 2007 is gone, and 2008 is here. I was reminded of what Paul said in 2 Cor. 5: if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.
Eph 4
We have been taught, with regard to our former way of life, to put off our old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of our mind; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Rom 8
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on the nature desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by sinful nature cannot please God.
We need to start out this year by putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lust. We need to prepare our minds for action and keep sober in spirit, fixing our hope completely on the grace to be brought to us in Jesus Christ. We need to take every thought captive by the word that is hidden in our hearts.
Eph 6
Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
My question for you: What do you have on?
Blessings on your journey in 2008.
Doug
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4 comments:
Amen! I pray that I'm dressed properly for 2008!
i like your thought provoking end question... it reminds me that armor is never trendy or will it quite match with what you're carnally wearing. It is a full acknowledgement that we are in a war. I remember hearing a story several years ago that the deployed soldiers in Iraq were asking for body armor so that they could do their job with less risk to personal injury. Their leaders couldn't provide this for them due to hefty $10K cost of each. Which brings me to, if we know that we have been fully deployed in a spiritual battle, AND we have been provisioned with the armor of God, why would we not choose to wear it, or even be so foolish as to hide your armor so as to fit in with the crowd that does not believe we are in a spiritual battle for our lives and those around us?
Thank you Todd for letting me provoke you to think. Ha
Most of the battle is in the mind, 1 Peter talks about prepare your mind for action, keep sober in spirit. It seems like the devil is always attacking our minds, trying to get us to agree with who we where in our sinful nature and what are people going to think and what we have done. Instead of who we are in Christ. It is hard to believe that God wants us to put on the new self clothed in righteousness and holiness so we can be like Him.
Doug
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