During the early part of this week, I was at a convocation for church workers. While these kinds of things are basically required, I always enjoy the time I spend at them. I always manage to take some things away from them, even if they are on topics or subjects that I am already well-versed in. So this convocation, with the title "Renewal from the Inside Out", held a great deal of promise.
Of course, as Christians, we find that God begins are renewal within us when we are washed with the water and word of Baptism. That's when God first takes a sinful person and extends His promise to them. He forgives them of the inherent sin that is within all humankind, and puts His Spirit within that person. New life is given to that person, eternal life with God because of what Jesus has done. That truly is renewal that starts on the inside.
As Christians, we are thankful for such renewal in our lives. We can rest secure in that gift of grace. The problem is, too often we simply rest in that gift of grace. What we fail to realize is that, as God gives us those gifts of grace, He also makes us into a new creation. That new creation is one that sees God's will and design, that which we would call His law or His commands, and wants to live according to them. That new creation wants to love God with all heart, soul, mind, and strength, and wants to love neighbor as self.
The problem we face is that we far too frequently also don't want to do such things. In some respects, that old nature, that sinful nature, seems far more appealing. We are thankful for God's renewal in the spiritual sense, but in our outward, physical sense, we fail to demonstrate that renewal. We fail to honor God and love Him above all things. We fail to love neighbor as self. We don't want to live the new life that God is giving us.
That's when the call for renewal begins. We are made right with God, and that is our reality inside of us. We respond to that gift of grace by seeking to live a renewed life. Sure, we won't ever get it perfect, but that's not the point. The point is that, far too often, we simply fail to really try. So renewal fails to take hold, at least in an outward sense. And that is when we need the reminder that a part of the Christian life and faith is the actual living out of that renewal. But more on that tomorrow!
Of course, as Christians, we find that God begins are renewal within us when we are washed with the water and word of Baptism. That's when God first takes a sinful person and extends His promise to them. He forgives them of the inherent sin that is within all humankind, and puts His Spirit within that person. New life is given to that person, eternal life with God because of what Jesus has done. That truly is renewal that starts on the inside.
As Christians, we are thankful for such renewal in our lives. We can rest secure in that gift of grace. The problem is, too often we simply rest in that gift of grace. What we fail to realize is that, as God gives us those gifts of grace, He also makes us into a new creation. That new creation is one that sees God's will and design, that which we would call His law or His commands, and wants to live according to them. That new creation wants to love God with all heart, soul, mind, and strength, and wants to love neighbor as self.
The problem we face is that we far too frequently also don't want to do such things. In some respects, that old nature, that sinful nature, seems far more appealing. We are thankful for God's renewal in the spiritual sense, but in our outward, physical sense, we fail to demonstrate that renewal. We fail to honor God and love Him above all things. We fail to love neighbor as self. We don't want to live the new life that God is giving us.
That's when the call for renewal begins. We are made right with God, and that is our reality inside of us. We respond to that gift of grace by seeking to live a renewed life. Sure, we won't ever get it perfect, but that's not the point. The point is that, far too often, we simply fail to really try. So renewal fails to take hold, at least in an outward sense. And that is when we need the reminder that a part of the Christian life and faith is the actual living out of that renewal. But more on that tomorrow!
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