Out with the old, in with the new

Ephesians 4:22-24 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.

When much talk takes place of resolutions and transformations, new habits to be started and old habits to be quit, we need to take notice of where our heart's motivation lies. Change is good, but let's seek to change into being more like Jesus.

Becoming healthier is good, but what if we all sought this year to become healthier spiritually? If every follower of Christ resolved to become more like Jesus, the world would be turned upside down. Poverty rates would fall, crime would lessen, love would prevail. It seems like a Utopian dream, but what if?

Let's make up our minds to seek more God in our lives, more righteousness, more holiness, more love. Let's put off our old selves, the ones that chase after earthly possessions and perfect bodies, and put on our new selves. Let's aim to become better brothers and sisters, better husbands and wives, better sons and daughters, fathers and mothers. Let's turn the world upside down.

Pointing others to Christ

Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Many people who are asked why they don't attend church answer that the Church is full of hypocrites and they want no part of it. We need to deal with this head-on as believers in Christ. What exactly is it that leads people on the outside to believe that people on the inside don't practice what they believe?

One answer to that question is that many of us have a problem with the words we use. We can be harsh, rude, vulgar, and mean. We do not speak with love and compassion. When questioned on our faith, we can be very defensive and ugly in response. This is not the way of Jesus.

The way we speak to others has a huge impact on how they view Christians as a whole. If we profess to believe in a man who is full of love and speak with hate, it's not hard to understand how we can be seen an not being genuine in our faith. If we want people to come to Christ, we must act with love toward them, letting our conversations be full of grace, speaking to them as Jesus would.

Give thanks, for He is good

Psalm 7:17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

1 Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.

Oh what an awesome God we serve! He's done so much for us in giving us life and sending His Son to this earth as a sacrifice for our salvation. Each of us has received unique blessings from our Father. Now is the time to give thanks. Sing praises to the Lord.

We should always be grateful for the things the Lord has done, but while we are in this season of Thanksgiving, let's make known all of His good works to the world. While people, believers and unbelievers alike, are pondering all they have been given, let's make it a point to proclaim all of the Lord's blessings and goodness. Let's share with anyone who will listen all He has done.

1 Chronicles 16:34 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Reach out to the poor

Deuteronomy 15:11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

Everyday we see people in need, many times passing them by without a second thought. We go along with our busy lives, never stopping to lend a hand to someone that has been facing tough times. We may justify it, saying "They've done something to get themselves in that position". We may seek to make ourselves feel better by pointing out that there is always something and someone and we can't help them all.

It may very well be that the person in need is reaping some of the consequences of their own actions, but one finds very little justification in the Bible for not helping someone because it's their own fault that they are where they're at in life. We're called to love, not to love only those who have not made mistakes that led to poverty or need.

It also may be true that there will always be someone in need and we can't help all of them with the limited resources we've been given in our own lives. But again, one could search all through the Bible and find very little instruction to give only if you can give to everyone. In fact, the scriptures point out that there will always be poor people in the land. Yet that is the very basis for the command ("Therefore I command you...") to give and to help.

Love the poor. Help the needy. You never know, it just may be Jesus that you've assisted.

Further reading: Matthew 25:31-46