In 2 Corinthians, the apostle
tells why they did not faint under their afflictions, expectations,
desires, assurance of happiness, and quickening in their
duty. All who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, given
full control to the Holy Spirit, the very essence of God
to lead and guide them, has a duty; willfully and joyfully
accepted because you love the Lord. A duty that is Holy
Spirit Led, denying oneself and being mindful that it’s
all about Christ and not us. A New Beginning …
To Be More Like Christ … In Every Way.
The apostle notes what heaven
is like in the eye and hope of a believer. It’s a
house, habitation, dwelling-place, resting-place, hiding-place,
a building of God, our Father’s house, where there
are many mansions, and our everlasting home in heaven, a
high and holy place. It’s not like these earthly vessels,
in which our souls now dwell, that day by day decays because
the foundations are of dust. The apostle appeals unto God
and the consciences of those he wrote to, saying “We
are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made manifest
in your consciences.” We are connected to the body
and to the Lord with each claiming a part in us. How much
more powerfully does the Lord pleads for having the soul
of the believer closely united with Himself? A New
Beginning … To Be More Like Christ … In Every
Way.
The apostles used every
argument and persuasion to lead men to believe in the Lord
Jesus, and to act as His disciples. They did this for the
glory of God and the good of the church. Christ's love to
us will and should have the same effect upon us, if we consider
and rightly accept it. A New Beginning … To
Be More Like Christ … In Every Way.
We should not make ourselves,
but Christ, the basis of our living and actions. A Christian's
life should be devoted to Christ. The renewed man and woman
acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and
in new company. The believer is created anew. His or her
heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given.
Once the new heart is accepted, the mind needs a new “regenerated
mindset”. A New Beginning … To Be More
Like Christ … In Every Way.
We are the workmanship of
God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Though men
and women look the same outwardly, he or she is and should
be changed in character and conduct. A New Beginning
… To Be More Like Christ … In Every Way.
There must be more than
an outward dressing up, going through the motions. God did
all of this so that we might be made the righteousness of
Him in Him, through the redemption in Christ Jesus. Can
anyone lose, labour or suffer too much for Him? The one
who gave His Only Beloved Son to be the Sacrifice for our
sins, that we might be made the righteousness of God in
him? A New Beginning … To Be More Like Christ
… In Every Way.
This is a New Year that
all of us have begun. We are only here because of the grace
and mercy of God Almighty, through the sacrifice of Jesus
Christ. Was His sacrifice in vain? Did God give another
chance for nothing? Old ways, old thoughts, old actions,
old living, are and should pass away. God has given each
and everyone A New Beginning … To Be More
Like Christ … In Every Way. It’s not
too late.