Getting Changed

Ephesians 4 : 17 - 24 tells us to put off our old selves, the way we think and act, and take on our new selves.

When the Holy Spirit enters our lives he enables us to change how we are. Not who we are, but how we react, how we think, how we interact with others.

The problem is, this isn't some instantaneous result of becoming a Christian. This is a conscious act we need to make. It's a daily, if not moment by moment, decision we need to make if we are to be effective for God.

The other day someone said something to me at work and I had to struggle with how my mind dealt with the comment. Eventually, after asking God to help, I viewed the comment from a totally different perspective and saw it as an opportunity not a threat.

This "new attitude of mind" that Paul talks about requires practice, daily decisions to do things God's way. We don't do this in weakness but, because Jesus lives in us, His Holy Spirit gives us the power and authority to live as God desires.

I've got a challenging day today - I'm going over to visit one of our customers with the MD. I've never done anything like this before and naturally I'm scared, unprepared and worried I'll let the side down. I thought I was just going to be sitting there looking efficient (hopefully) but yesterday the boss told me I'd be taking the lead at some point! Mega scarey! I've prayed, I've prepared and now I feel ready. I could still let the side down, but I know I won't let God down if I allow Him to guide me through the process.

If God has placed me in this job, he's placed me in this position today and it won't be to fail but to succeed! I know I can do this, I just have to put off my old self of condemnation and put on my new self as a child of the Living God. Whatever the company implications of today's visit, my role is to glorify God in everything I do and say. What a great opportunity!

Mimics

Eph 5:1

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.

How many of us have watched children grow and develop. It appears they develop their own personality, their own way of doing things. In many ways, each of us is unique. Yet each of us are imitators of those closest to us - for many - our parents.

10 years ago I visited my sister in Australia. She'd lived there for 10 years and had had little close contact with us for several years before. Mum surprised us with a visit part way through and one night we went out for a meal. Liz and Mum sat side by side and it was startling how similar they were. I'm not just meaning their appearance (although mum's hair was grey :-) ), it was their mannerisms.

We pick up little nuances, such as posture, fidgets, facial expressions etc without realising we're doing it. We pick up phrases and ideals without realising we're doing it. How many times as a child/teenager did I hear my mum say things which annoyed me and yet those very words and tones I use with my own children these days.

God wants us, as His children, to mimic Him. It's a bit hard just through reading a lot of Laws to know the Father - although King David's love for his Father enabled Him to know Him. God helped us by sending His Son, Jesus, as an example of how his Law is to be lived. What it means to live the way God intended us to live.

How often have young people been told "What would Jesus say if he saw you doing that???" When really they should be encouraged to think "What would Jesus DO in this situation?"

We need to be imitators of the perfect example. We need to be reading God's word, along with spending time with Him each day. That way, it's so much easier to become an imitator. We cannot imitate someone we don't know. We need to get to know God intimately if we are to have any hope of imitating Him like a child imitates his parents.

Ephesians

For the past week I've been going through Ephesians as part of my daily readings. I've been meaning to write about what I've been learning/what God is saying to me etc, but I haven't had the time in the mornings and I've forgotten what I wanted to write by the evening. (ooh that implies I've forgotten what God had said to me!) Anyway, here's today's thoughts from Ephesians 2: 1- 9

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions

—it is by grace you have been saved.

God chose to love me. His love for me is not conditional on my loving Him. His love for me is not conditional on my obeying Him. His love for me is not conditional on the work I do for Him. His love for me is not conditional on the work I do for Him.

God's love for me is a gift, freely given, that I may enjoy life, that I may propser and that I may life a life so full that I can only praise Him for his love and for all that I have.

Yes, there are conditions for following Him, but there are no conditions to receiving His love or for remaining loved.

His love is a gift He will never take away from me.