Embrace Your Transformation
ICS Daily Devotions
Ephesians 4:17-24 (NKJV) This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Christians often say their character or personalities would never change because they were born that way or they are too used to them, but if we have this kind of mindset, we will remain carnal Christians. We have been asked to renew our minds with the word of God so that we will know God’s good and perfect will for us (Romans 12:1-2). It is God’s will for us to prosper in our souls by having good interpersonal relationships without any form of striving and bitterness among us. If we do not live in the new creation realities, our “old man” or old lifestyle will destroy our relationships, including our marriage, and our lives will be no different from the people of the world.
The Apostle Paul compared the “old man” and “new man” ’s lifestyles. He advocated for a complete lifestyle change and encouraged us not to continue in our old ways. He said we should live in the “new man” and have an entirely new lifestyle that can only be found in Christ.
Eternal life is in heaven, but abundant life begins as soon as we receive Christ, as we are born again spiritually and become new creations. However, to enjoy this life now, we must have faith that we can live a transformed life, embrace the new creation realities Christ has made possible, and die to ourselves so that we can have good relationships with others.
Semon Series: Faith in the New Creation Realities
