You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. — Ephesians 4:22-24
Oftentimes when we come to a new year, many people resolve to live differently. We promise to lose weight, find a new job, quit smoking, care better for our husband or wife, or change in some other way. "It’s going to be great" we think to ourselves! Then the cold reality hits: change is not easy. After a few weeks (or days) into a new year, old and destructive habits sometimes return.
Of course, we can also experience this when it comes to our walks with Jesus. We are told that we are a new creation in Christ. We are told that the old has gone and the new has come. We are told that we need to put on heavenly clothing. Then what happens? The old creeps back in again!
The point is not to have us beating ourselves up when we falter. God is at work, and God is the one who is making us new through the renewing of our minds and hearts - a process we call sanctification. The Christian life is about knowing Christ better and desiring to live for Him each and every day.
As we continue in our sermon series called "Identity" this week, we’re going to be looking at what it means for us to live as children of light, even in the midst of darkness. We’re blessed to have one of our elders, Robby Kissling, sharing with us since both Pastor Andrew and I are away officiating weddings. May God bless Robby as he leads us, and may our hearts be receptive to hearing how we are called to live in the light.
