You will have to want it

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Living like it’s true”

Our Bible verse for today: “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 the Creator.” Colossians 3:9-10 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “You will have to want it”

This morning I want to return us to our story from yesterday’s devotional about the eagle that grew up thinking he was a prairie chicken and therefore spent his life acting like a prairie chicken. Even when he witnessed other eagles soaring like eagles, and even when he sensed deep within himself that he too had the capacity to soar like that if he only would, he still stayed on the ground scratching with the chickens.

If that eagle wanted to soar, he was going to have to acknowledge and embrace his true identity as an eagle and stop acting like a prairie chicken. The point of the story was that sometimes Christians act like prairie chickens. We spend our lives scratching around on the ground when we could be soaring in the Spirit. But if we want to soar, there is action we need to take.

In Colossians 3:9-10 Paul tells us to take off our old selves and the practices that go with it and put on the new self, given to us by God through the Holy Spirit living in our heart. Please notice the intentional actions required of us in that verse. You must decide to take off our old self and to stop those old practices. You must also decide to put on the new self and to then intentionally engage in the new practices that go with the new self. There is action required on our part.

Paul also spoke to this in Romans 12:1-2 when he wrote, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (CSB)

This is why it’s essential for the follower of Christ to be committed to a life of serious discipleship that includes daily prayer and Bible study, full participation in the life of a good church, service to others in ministry, along with the other basic disciplines of the Christian life.

Living a life spent soaring in the Spirit is possible if you will embrace and live the life God wants for you. But you will have to want it, and then you will have to take the actions necessary for the Spirit to develop it in you. Your life should not be spent scratching with the chickens. You were meant to soar like an eagle.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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