Getting focused in the life He wants
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy... use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:23-24, 28-30
It’s now Final Four in NCAA! There is so much anticipation as to who will win the championship. Each team is putting on a strategy that will bring them the victory. Understanding the technicalities of playing basketball is already complicated. Then the pressure to remember the plays the coaches are trying to hammer in the mind of their players is another thing. All these they do because of their love for the game of basketball and to have the victory. I love that God did not make serving Him complicated. Yet in spite of the fact that God laid down from His word how Christians should live their lives, still there is so much confusion as how to project in this world what life in Christ is all about. The accusation to Christians is that they claim they belong to Christ yet the image their supposed to show of what Christianity should look like seemed to be blurred and distorted. Christianity is not about putting up a religious façade or to live in posturing pretension but to reflect the image of Christ. This is what the apostle Paul wanted to convey to Christians at Ephesus. When Christians are living their lives with a clear focus on who they are in Christ, their determination will be to reflect Him. As Paul said this focus begins by putting on “your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” This is the only way that Christians could experience victory over the old sinful nature. There are too many countering philosophies vying for people’s attention that has a goal of causing confusion so that people will not seek after God. Yet God said that when people understand why He has to be crucified they will realize their need of Him and will draw them to Him. “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself. He said this to indicate how he was going to die” (John 12:32-33). Once you have set your focus on what Christ wants to do through your life, you will put on the new life that comes from Him. “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life” (1 John 5:12). If you will be strong in your conviction that it is only by having the life of Christ in you being lived out by allowing His will to dominate your will then you would not allow your fleshly desires to take hold of your life. “Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires” (Romans 13:14). Living victoriously in this confused world is to let Christ take hold of your life and your mind focused on who you are in Christ.
Blessings,
