AUGUST

“Old and New”

As we enter the body of Christ, we soon begin our efforts with searching through the scriptures to discover who we are. We are certain something has happened to us; but sometimes we are struggling by what we think, say and how we act. Being born again is the most outstanding event that happens in our lives. Even though we are a new creature in Christ, we face the realities of old creature habits, that, without a steady diet of the Word of God, we can become confused about who we are.

Paul said in Ephesians 4:22-24, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

There are old ways that reflect who we were before we met Jesus Christ that must be put aside; realizing the new has come the moment we were born again. We must realize there are certain things and people we must avoid, if the old man is to be put off. Old ways and relationships can stir up the emotions and desires that once ruled our lives, pulling on us to do the wrong things. The old man has been made up of learned behaviors, memories and old habits that must change by disassociating ourselves with them and renewing our mind to who we are in Jesus. When Paul said “be renewed in the spirit of your mind”, in essence he is saying, “allow your attitude to reflect the new creature you have become”. Because it is impossible to change behaviors without changing what we believe. Our actions reflect what we believe to be true. If we have learned that a lie is an ever present help in a tight spot, then we will keep on doing it until we change the way we think about it. If we have lived by the rule of “do unto others before they do unto you”, change will not be evident until we deal with the thoughts that feed it. Paul points to the fact that God has made us righteous and holy by way of the new birth, but he says we must put on the new man. I can remember my dad telling me “son everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time” reminding me that no matter who we are, there are certain things that are the same for everyone. Putting on clothes did not come naturally. Someone had to teach us how. Putting on the new man is a learned process. Nonetheless, when we receive Jesus as Lord, we become a new creature in Him; but still have to contend with putting off the old man.