January 1

Making A Fresh Start

to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. — Eph 4:22-24 BSB

Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh. — Rom 13:14 BSB

We can all start afresh! No matter how far we've gone, there's always something higher to reach for; and no matter how far we've fallen, it's always possible to begin again. We need to take our place in the School of Christ and learn from Him (Eph 4:20-21).

"The old self" that we must "put off" refers to our former way of life. If we haven't fully cast it aside, let's do it now by an act of faith in the living Spirit. It doesn't take long for a beggar to shed his rags and put on new clothes, and it shouldn't take any longer to abandon habits, thoughts, words, and ways of life that aren't fitting for God's children. Do it now, and look to the Holy Spirit to keep renewing your mind.

But beyond that, let's "put on the new self," which is the life of Jesus Christ, created to be like God in true righteousness. To live this life, we need the daily help of the Holy Spirit. He entered our hearts the moment we were born again and has been with us ever since. We might not have noticed His arrival, but we believe in it because of the promises in 1 Cor 6:19, Rom 8:9, and Eph 3:16. Personally, I like to start every day, before I even lift my head from the pillow, by saying, "You are within me, O Spirit of Christ, even though I don't feel You."

If the Holy Spirit is ungrieved, He will confirm our identity as God's children, enthrone Christ as King in our lives, keep the self-life in a place of death, give us a hunger for the things of God, and empower our witness. To have a strong and blessed Christian experience, the key is not to grieve the Spirit. I don't believe we can drive Him away, but we can greatly limit His work by dishonesty, harboring an unforgiving spirit, dishonorable conduct, impure speech, or a lack of love. A person can be bound by many small threads just as tightly as by a strong rope. Let's be careful not to grieve Him through such inconsistencies.

Prayer

Fulfill in me, O God, the desires for goodness that You have created in my heart, and perfect the work of faith, that Jesus Christ may be glorified in me. Amen.