From old to new (2)

"bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection."               Colossians 3:13-14     NKJV 

Let's look at Day 2 of our ' From old to new' series. Yesterday we saw how we have to take off the old self and put on the new. We also discovered that this, although an important requirement to the believer, is not always an easy thing to do and, can take a life time. Breaking down the two verses above, let's start with:

BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER       

This really is showing people grace. Be honest, where would we be without this. Jesus is always gracious towards us. We are to be the same. Being gracious, is showing the person that however difficult they may be, we are willing to be patient and put up with them. Ask yourself how many times has someone put up with your peculiarities? Quite often if you are like me. Thank goodness that they were patient.

FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER

This is having a willingness to forgive the person who has wronged you, whether they ask forgiveness or not. Forgiveness doesn't excuse evil or approve of bad behaviour, but it means that we set people free from obligations and if they are free, then we are the same because we don't harbour bad feelings. We are not called to harbour grudges or unforgiveness; it only leads to bitterness; and this can lead us to linger on the wrongdoing and demand payback.

PUT ON LOVE

Paul speaks of the bond of perfection. Basically this is unity - a joining together of one another in Jesus Christ. I like how the Amplified bible quotes this verse, we are to 'Wrap yourselves in (unselfish) love by seeking the best of people'. When we wrap something, that certain 'something' is safe and protected. In the same manner, wrapping ourselves, in love around one another is doing the same. We are offering a safe and protected relationship.

This is all part of the new self; as someone put it, the new clothes that Jesus has given us. We may not feel 'new' but we are and little by little as we walk with in the new self, we begin to operate as such. So keep at it, you are a new creation, 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new' 2 Corinthians 5:17

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From Old to New. (1)

"Therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering" v12                              Colossians 3:8-14    NKJV 

In this piece of scripture, Paul is talking about taking off the old self (man) and putting on the new self (man) v8-10. If we are honest, we can all relate to the old self  with its, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language and lying or gossiping to one another. These are the hallmarks of life without Jesus - the way we used to be or were used to. Sadly, for most of us, they show their ugly head from time to time and, when they do, we feel ashamed and also condemned. However, straightaway, let us put in the bin, the feeling of being condemned. If we belong to Jesus, there is no longer any condemnation for us Romans 8:1. Jesus has taken that away. We are free from it. However, what it shows us, is that we are not yet free from the old self.

Relax, none of us are perfect, this is why Paul wrote in Philippians, 'being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you, will complete it until the day of Christ' 1:6. We have a long way to go yet but, that does not mean that we should just poodle along not trying. We are called to put off the old self and put on the new, this means being renewed in knowledge and renewal in Jesus. We should keep trying - by faith. We will never be able to walk upright in Jesus without seeking help from the Holy Spirit. He is the one that can help us to remain on the right road. So we adopt these qualities as we surrender to the Holy Spirit and little by little, we are changed so that our lives become a refection of Jesus. At this precise time, you are a work in progress and are the:

ELECT OF GOD:                      You are one of God's chosen people

HOLY:                                       You are set apart and sanctified for God's purpose for your life

BELOVED:                               God loves you so much. He adores you. He wants you to:

PUT ON TENDER MERCIES  The compassion of Jesus

KINDNESS and HUMILITY.     Be Jesus to people

MEEKNESS                             Have gentleness

LONG-SUFFERING.                Having forbearance or patience - an attribute of Christ's nature.

                                                 This has the power to endure whatever injustice or

                                                 unpleasantness comes your way.

You are not there yet, but Jesus is pleased with your progress

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 

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There are many resources but only one source

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over"                                                            Psalm 23:5     NKJV

As we walk daily with Jesus, many things come at us in the form of attack. There are distractions, tiredness, sickness, loss of jobs and many worries. People may also persecute us and make things difficult for us because of our faith. It can be difficult but, like David, we must carry on.

David had many enemies around him but, God fed him when he was hungry and anointed him with oil when he needed healing.  Tony Evans comments:

'Like David we must recognise that we have one source. There are many resources - many channels God may use to provide and care for your physical well-being, but you only have one source. And God never runs dry. That's why David's cup overflowed.'

                                                                     The Tony Evans Bible Commentary

Notice that he says, 'there are many resources'. This is true, but we must determine what is the right resource and not become de-railed. God is the source and walking, praying and listening to Him will help us find the resource that is right for us. We need to get to the point where we are confident in our relationship with Jesus, we are secure enough in Him to know that He will never let us down. When we are, we can confidently sit and eat a meal in front of our enemies, do a particular job, be secure in the knowledge that if God is for us, what can man do to us Romans 8:31.

When we are walking with God, we can be assured that, whatever we may face; whatever hardship may come our way and whatever people may say about us, God anoints our head with oil and our cup runs over. Notice that this verse doesn't say that He fills our cup to the brim, no, it says that the cup runs over. It flows over the top; it has superabundance. Jesus gives us His all and more. What else can you hope for?

Yes times may be difficult; the risks of Covid, the price of gas and electric forecast to rocket to sky high prices and will we be able to manage? Hey, stop that type of negative thinking; if you belong to Jesus then, your cup runs over. He will take care of all these fears; they are nothing to Him - NOTHING! Jesus is your source, not your job, not your benefits and not what little you have in the bank, but Jesus is our source!

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 

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A Time of Refreshing?

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters"    

                                                                                                           Psalm 23:2    NKJV 

We looked at Psalm 23 some time ago but, it never hurts to look at scriptures again and again. Unlike books of the world, the bible contains a living word and will address a given subject each time it is needed. 

David's needs were met by the Lord. He was confident in Him and although there were times of shakiness, he always endeavoured to walk with the Lord. He was David's shepherd. Now a shepherd gives his sheep refreshment and rest in green pastures beside quiet waters. Sheep can easily become distressed, especially around strange people and animals. A shepherd is there to help and protect. Do you get the idea here. Jesus is your shepherd (John 10), and He guides and protects us wherever we go, as long as we remain in Him. Sheep have a tendency to wander off and get lost. The shepherd will go out and look for them. Jesus does the same for us, but will never come between our will, if we decide against Him.

The struggles of this world can exhaust us and we need to depend on Him more and more to be able to keep the victory. Jesus gives each one us, Refreshment, Restoration and New Life. Picture the scene of a green meadow on a still summer's day. Alongside this, can you see the still, peaceful lake where the birds are feeding and going about their business? Everywhere around is quiet and there is total peace around the place. This is the place that Jesus wants to take you to. It can be anywhere; you just have to be available to Him so that he can give you this important time-out. You may say that you need a holiday, but in this day of Covid and the travel restrictions, do you really need that hassle? It may be far better to ask Jesus to give you a time of refreshing. You have earned it.

Life has been hectic and tough just lately and there have been many mountains to negotiate. Perhaps the Lord is saying to you, 'Come and have a rest for a while' Mark 6:31 paraphrase. You are allowed; you are allowed to take some time off and just chill in Jesus.

Do it!

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 

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Don't judge a book by looking at the cover

"Do you look at things according to the outward appearance"   

                                                                                         2 Corinthians 10:7     NKJV 

So many times I have looked at the cover of a book and, believing it to be an exciting read, have purchased it only to find it was no good at all. The cover was just that - a cover, just an outward appearance with no reference to what was in the text. We can do this with the people we meet. Some of us may look at a man with a shaved head and covered in tattoos and make the judgement that you need to give him a wide berth. I've heard several people say that, in this day and age, it is so easy to see someone from an ethnic background carrying a backpack and think, this could be a terrorist. It seems terrible to think this way but, this is how life has taught us to react.

I wonder what it would have felt like to see John the Baptist in the street. Camel hair clothes held together by a leather belt, long, straggly hair and eating locusts and wild honey. Have you ever thought about that? It would have been quite a strange, if not scary sight to see. Especially when he started screaming out, 'Repent'. But the most wonderful thing about John was that, he pointed the way to Jesus; and that's all that matters.

In 1 Samuel 16:7 we read: 'Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for a man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.' In 1962, before his untimely death in an air crash, Bo Diddly sang 'You can't judge a book by the cover:'

'You can't judge an apple by looking at the tree, you can't judge honey by looking at the bee,

You can't judge a daughter by looking at the mother, You can't judge a book by looking at the cover'

                                                               Words and Music Willie Dixon

We get it wrong many times and we need to be mindful of Jesus' words: 'Judge not that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged'  Matthew 7:1-2. It is serious business when we judge people; because we will be judged the same by Jesus. We also paint a false picture of someone and this is akin to gossip. Gossip sticks and can be seen as the truth. This is why we should be careful.

The next time you are tempted to judge someone you see, stop and think of John the Baptist; if you had been there at the time, you would have got it wrong, and you will probably get it wrong here. So be careful.

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com          

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Do you know someone who needs restoring?

"He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound "                  Isaiah 61:1-4     NKJV

Jesus went to the synagogue in His home town, stood up and preached this sermon. This caused mayhem with people saying, 'Is this not Joseph's son?' Luke 4:22. Jesus was fulfilling what needed to be said and the flak was beginning to spread around Him. However, He had the anointing; the name of Jesus and Messiah means The Anointed One and He was announcing this.

Jesus is the Anointed One but, He has anointed us as well and has commissioned us to go out into the world and make disciples and heal the sick. We have a task to fulfill on His behalf. (Mark 16:14-18). There are many people around us that are brokenhearted and captive to addictions, lonely, abused and in total turmoil. They need setting free and you have the power to carry out this task, because Jesus has sent you.

Sickness and death bring great sadness to the people who are mourning. They need consoling and this is a ministry in itself. For the last ten years as a social worker, I worked at a hospice with people who were dying and with their loved ones. It was the best job I have ever had but was also draining working with people whose lives were falling apart. I wasn't a chaplain there but whenever I had the opportunity, I would share the gospel with them. It brought much peace to each of them.

When people are hurting, they have no particular strength or hope to hang on to. Just getting alongside them and offering love and comfort can be such a great healer in itself. A breakdown in a relationship can be very painful and just sitting and listening to the hurt can bring great benefit. It's getting alongside of them, standing in their shoes that works. Counsellors often call this getting into someone's Internal Frame of Reference; it sounds technical but all it is, is showing the person empathy by letting them know you are listening and on their wavelength without saying the negative, 'I know how you feel', because mostly you don't. 

You may not be a counsellor and you don't have to be; what you do is just carry out Jesus' guidelines - be Jesus to them without fancy Christian language. You have the ability to grow trees of righteousness v3, by helping to plant in the listener, hope. There is a lot of hurting people around you and you have the anointing within you to make a difference.

Think about it!

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com          

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

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Do you need restoring?

"He restores my soul"                                                          Psalm 23:3    NKJV 

Part of the word restoration means, 'an act of being restored from damage' as  recorded in The Free Dictionary. Anyone who has seen the show The Repair Shop on TV, will have an idea of what people bring to the crafts people. Many things are so damaged that one wonders if they could ever be repaired and restored, but they are.

In biblical terms, everyone needs daily restoration of the anxious, weary soul. Pressures can be quite strong at times. The soul is made up of the Mind, Will and Emotions; and to use a psychological term, it is the animating and vital principle  in humankind credited with the faculties of thought, action and emotion The Reader's Digest Universal Dictionary. The mind can produce thoughts that trigger our will and shatter our emotions if allowed. When like this, restoration is called for.

The Psalmist cries out in Psalm 42:5, 'Why are you cast down my soul and why are you disquieted  within me?' The writer was carrying out some self-analysis because of His distress and this is not a bad thing to do from time to time. We need to know what makes us tick; what troubles us and why things have all of a sudden gone pear-shaped.

If we're not careful, anxiety, worry and fear can play a big part in our downfall. If we allow it, we can fall to rock bottom and find it very difficult to move on; the distress and the depression have become so severe. We can end up a wreck needing professional help. In other words, we become damaged and broken up.

However, there is hope in God's word, Isaiah 61:4 says, 'They shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities.' If you have been undergoing distress, anxiety, fear and pain just lately, then perhaps you need to be restored - the damage needs to be repaired. I know a good restorer and He doesn't appear on The Repair Shop. His name is Jesus, a former carpenter that is true, but fully God. He is the greatest restorer of all time and He wants to help you. As I mentioned, it is not a bad thing to consider that each of us needs restoring on a daily basis. This way we have a chance of remaining sharp.

Why not go to Him right now and tell Him what you need.

Copyright 2021 Grahame Howard.                                 

dailylifewithjesusbygrahamehoward.blogspot.com          

If you would like to contact me, CLICK HERE

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