Scripture

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and be like him.

Observation

We must put to death the sinful nature that works within us. We must have nothing to do with sexual impurity, greed, anger, lies and so on.

We must put on the new nature and let God renew us. God chose us to be His holy people, so we must clothe ourselves with the attitudes that are from Him. We must let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts

Application

God raises us to life in Christ. But then this gift of grace has to be activated in our lives. We have to put on the new nature.

God doesn’t force us to love our Christian brothers and sisters. That would not be love at all. He does give us love for others, and he encourages us to walk in that love.

He does not make us totally perfect. But he does give us the grace to turn away from sin and to overcome temptation. The choice then is up to us to live righteously or according to the ways of our old nature.

Every time we choose the new nature, a roar of praise is heard in heaven. And every time we choose God’s way, it becomes easier the next time we are tempted.

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for the knowledge that you are at work in me. Please help me to put on the new nature, to draw closer to you, and to be more like you. Amen

Scripture

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God’s right hand.

Observation

We have been raised to new life with Christ, so therefore we should keep our eyes on Him, in heaven next to God. We should concern ourselves with the things of heaven not of earth.

We have died to this life, and our real life is with Christ. When Christ is revealed to the world we will share in His glory.

Application

Migrants to a new country can find it hard to fit in at first. They may have to learn a new language. They have to learn new customs and navigate a culture that seems alien, and yet everyone around seems to accept it as the only reality.

Even a relatively small change like moving from England to Australia is fraught with a big learning curve of different road rules, different names for everyday objects and different world views

We have been called to a much bigger leap. As followers of Jesus, we have been raised to a new life in heaven with him. This means we have a new citizenship, a new culture, new values.

Unlike a migrant to a new nation, we are surrounded by people living in the worldly culture. We can be tempted to cut ourselves off from the world to stay clean, or to give in to the temptations of the world and live like everyone else.

Jesus wants us to follow Him, to live for Him, and to focus on heaven, all while living in this world with all of its responsibilities and distractions.

The key is to keep our focus on heaven even while we live in the world. We remain as ambassadors of God’s Kingdom, representing Jesus to our friends and co-workers.

Prayer

Lord please help me to keep my focus on the things of heaven , even while I live in the world. Amen.