Renewed

“…be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24 ESV

A couple of days ago, my husband picked a handful of wildflowers from our fields and arranged them in vases for me to enjoy. This morning, when I changed the water in the vase that held black-eyed Susans, I discovered that the flowers had released their yellow pigment into the water, tainting it a golden brown.

In the same way, what is in our hearts and minds will either taint or benefit our lives and the lives of others. The Message translates this verse, “… take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.”.

When Christ fills every part of our lives, He transforms what is inside of us. In turn, His character in us works itself into our conduct. My question to myself is, “What do I release into others?” Do I release fear, anxiety, impurity, or anger? If so, then I need to ask God to remove these behaviors from my life. I hope – I pray – that what I release into others is joy, peace, purity, gentleness, forgiveness, and Christlike conduct both in my speech and in my actions.

Prayer: Search me, O God, and take a good look at my heart and mind. Cleanse me of impure or harmful thoughts. See if there is anything wrong in me and blot it out, then fill me instead with your Spirit that I might release blessing into the lives of those around me. Amen.

Thought: “Our transformation into the likeness of Jesus Christ has been God’s purpose for us from before the dawn of creation. It is central to his purposes for us. And he will stop at nothing to accomplish it. He will spare nothing to make you like his Son.” – Sinclair Ferguson