| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “A fresh start in a new year” Our Bible verse for today: “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:1-3 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Do it for Christ’s sake too” Yesterday we thought about the truth that God wants us to be different from the world around us. He wants us to stand firm in His Word and to stand out in the world as a shining example of the difference Jesus makes in a life. We also thought about the sad fact that our culture today is largely defined by our vices and addictions, resulting in a society of people who are addicted, indebted, unhealthy, and unhappy. I offered the observation that God’s people should want to be different, and that’s one of the reasons we make New Years resolutions. It’s in our own best interest to be different from the world around us. Life will be better if we are not addicted, indebted, unhealthy, and unhappy. So, we do it for our own sakes. But we also do it for the sake of Christ. When God’s people are living their best lives; when we are noticeably different and happier than the world around us; God gets the glory. When our lives are marked by the fruit of the Spirit radiating out of us (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23); when people can see the evidence of 1 Peter 3:3-4 in us, (a gentle and quiet spirit that is of great value in God’s sight); when we have clearly learned the lesson from Paul in Philippians 4:12 (I have learned the secret of being content); the world will then be seeing in us the difference Jesus makes in a life that is fully and wholly committed to Him. Colossians 3:1-17, from which our verse for today comes, is an important passage of New Testament Scripture. In it, Paul contrasts the life Jesus calls us to leave, with the life Jesus wants us to have. He calls us to leave behind sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, greed, idolatry, anger, wrath, malice, slander, filthy language, lying, and all that goes with that kind of life. And he calls us instead to a life marked by love, holiness, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and unity. The contrast between the two is dramatic and stark. We have to want to be different from the society around us and we have to be intentional about taking the actions necessary so we will be. That’s why we make and keep New Years resolutions. We honestly admit to ourselves the areas in our lives that need to be improved, we resolve to take the actions necessary to make those changes, we develop a plan for doing so, and then we stick with it. We do it not just for our own sake, but for the sake of Christ. Because when we are different from the world around us, God gets the glory. God bless, Pastor Jim (If you like what you are 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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