Put on the new man, who has been created according to the will of God (Ephesians 4:24)
When we moved house five years ago, we discovered that the former owner had left us six dining room chairs. The chair is upholstered in a beautiful African art weave, namely artistic zebra stripes. We appreciate the unexpected gift. And we often use the dining table to entertain guests.
When we recently moved again, we felt that the chairs needed to be re-dressed to match our new décor. So then I called in a furniture fitter and asked, Shouldn't we just put new material on top of the existing cloth? He replied, No, you will spoil the shape of the chair if you just put new material on top of old material.
Such is also the work of God in our lives. He is not interested in simply changing our spiritual appearance. Instead, He intends to replace our character with the so-called new man, created in the likeness of Christ (Ephesians 4:24) . The flesh has a tendency to display religious activity, but that is not the work of the Holy Spirit. He will completely change us from within.
However, the process is a working partnership (Philippians 2:12,13). If we daily put aside our old behavior and replace it with godly behavior, then the God of grace will work in us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
God wants to renew us- HDF
WHEN YOU RECEIVE CHRIST THE
WORK OF GOD IN YOU HAS JUST BEGIN
WORK OF GOD IN YOU HAS JUST BEGIN
*) Take from Daily Reflections