DAY 36 - BYE BYE BYE
CONNOR GRIM, YA ASSOCIATE PASTOR & VOLUNTEER TEAM LEAD
“PUT TO DEATH, THEREFORE, WHATEVER BELONGS TO YOUR EARTHLY NATURE: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY, LUST, EVIL DESIRES AND GREED, WHICH IS IDOLATRY. BECAUSE OF THESE, THE WRATH OF GOD IS COMING. YOU USED TO WALK IN THESE WAYS, IN THE LIFE YOU ONCE LIVED. BUT NOW YOU MUST ALSO RID YOURSELVES OF ALL SUCH THINGS AS THESE: ANGER, RAGE, MALICE, SLANDER, AND FILTHY LANGUAGE FROM YOUR LIPS. DO NOT LIE TO EACH OTHER, SINCE YOU HAVE TAKEN OFF YOUR OLD SELF WITH ITS PRACTICES AND HAVE PUT ON THE NEW SELF, WHICH IS BEING RENEWED IN KNOWLEDGE IN THE IMAGE OF ITS CREATOR” COLOSSIANS 3:5-10
The call to be a Christian is not for the faint of hearts. You’ve heard some people describe the need for “God” or “religion” as a crutch for those too weak to do life on their own. I would actually argue just the opposite. We see here in Colossians 3 that Paul encourages believers that if they’re going to walk out this faith that they now claim, not everything in their life is allowed to go with them.
The call to be a follower of Jesus is one where every day that you wake up you have to make a conscious decision to leave behind sinful patterns in your life as you embrace new Godly ones. This isn’t an overnight process. It may take some time and that’s where God’s grace comes in. However, because of the price that Jesus has paid, you are no longer your own which means if you really want to follow Him and allow Him to change your life, not everything can come with you.
That bitterness that might be hiding in your heart because of someone who betrayed you…you have to forgive.
That anger towards a friend or parent who wasn’t there for you when you needed them most…you have to let it go.
That relationship you have where you’re living together and sleeping together before you’re married…it’s time to accept the call to a higher standard in your sexuality and relationships.
Leaving old things behind can be hard. But it’s worth it. The more you let go of in your pursuit to be more like Jesus the more and more like Him you become. The more you’re willing to leave behind the more available you are to embrace the call and promises of God in your life. God is a good God and while everything He has for you may not be EASY you can be assured that they’re always GOOD!
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS IN YOUR LIFE THAT GOD MIGHT BE ASKING YOU TO LEAVE BEHIND IN PURSUIT OF SOMETHING BETTER?
WRITE SOME OF THESE THINGS DOWN AND PRAY FOR GOD TO GIVE YOU THE VISION AND THE STRENGTH TO STEP FORWARD INTO THE NEW LIFE HE HAS FOR YOU, LEAVING THE OLD THINGS BEHIND!