Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Renewing of Minds


“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

“. . . I urge you, brothers . . . “Paul encourages the believers at Rome and later readers to listen and follow what he will tell them. He also refers to them as brothers; they worshiped and served the same Father.
“. . . to offer sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God . . .” Paul speaks of the need to give sacrifices that were set apart for that purpose which God would accept.
“. . . this is your spiritual act of worship.” When we go before the Lord in worship, either private or corporate, we worship with our spirits.
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world. . .” Paul advises his readers, then and now, to not mould our lives to resemble this fallen world.
“. . . be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Paul tells us to allow God to change our outlook, our habits, our thoughts by letting His Spirit our minds and yield to His working.

“Then you will be able to be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and Perfect will “ The outcome of submitting to God’s shaping of our minds and hearts is we gain discernment and can learn what God’s will is for our lives. We learn what God wants for our lives is what is best for us, His beloved children

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graphic:eclakeland.org

Monday, July 15, 2013

Called by a New Name

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“The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory,you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
Isaiah 62:2 (NIV)

“The nations will see your righteousness. . .” When we come to the Lord, He gives us a new character- a new personality. We are no longer the same as before. In the New Testament, Paul writes to the church at Corinth, “Therefore, anyone who is in Chris, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) When we have Jesus in our hearts, He changes our demeanor in noticeable ways. People see and take note.
“. . . and all kings your glory . . .” Paul tells his readers-then and now-that the rulers or leaders will see that we are no longer the same.
“. . . you will be called by a new name . . .” God will call us by a name He selects for us. I have known two men in my lifetime who have gone by different given names. The older one seemed to use his first name and middle name interchangeably. The younger man chose to drop his first given name altogether and use his middle name, a Biblical name. This younger man’s choice to do this was based on this verse and, as memory serves, and on 2 Corinthians 5:17.

“. . . that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.” God gives us a new attitude, a new outlook and a new name. The younger man in the above paragraph prayed about this shortly after he came back to the Lord. 



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graphic: awordywoman.com

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...