OUR DAILY BREAD : RESTORED BY THE MASTER

[cimi]

June 23
Monday


RESTORED BY
THE MASTER

READ:
Colossians 3:8-17
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[you] have put on
the new man who is
renewed in knowledge
according to the image
of Him who created
him. __Colossians 3:10
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Over the centuries, many attempts have been made to restore damaged and time-worn masterpieces of art. While some of these efforts have skillfully preserved the original work of artists, others have actually damaged many works of genius, including ancient Greek statues and at least two paintings by da Vinci.

In Paul's letter to the Christians at Colosse, he described a restoration process that is impossible in the world of art. It's a restoration of God's people. Paul wrote, "You have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (Col. 3:9-10). This is no attempt at renovating the work of a deceased artist. It is a spiritual renewal from the living God who created us and gave us new life in His Son, Jesus Christ. His forgiveness brightens the colors of our lives while His grace sharpens the lines of His purpose for us.

The canvas of our lives is in the skilled hands of our Lord who knows who and what he designed us to be. No matter how sin-damaged and dirty we may be, there is hope for renewal and restoration. The Master Artist is alive and at work within us. __David McCasland

```````````````````Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,``````````````````````
``````````````````````To His feet thy tribute bring;````````````````````````
`````````````````Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,````````````````````
```````````````````Evermore His praises sing. __Lyte``````````````````````
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Jesus specializes in restoration.

**************************Today's Bible Reading __ Colossians 3:8-17******************************

8 But now you yourselves
are to put off all these:
anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy language
out of your mouth. 9 Do not
lie to one another, since you
have put off the old man
with his deeds, 10 and have
put on the new man who is
renewed in knowledge
according to the image of
Him who created him,

11 where there is neither
Greek nor Jew, circumcised
nor uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian, slave
nor free, but Christ is all
and in all.

12 Therefore, as the elect
of God, holy and beloved,
put on tender mercies,
kindness, humility,
meekness, longsuffering;

13 bearing with one another,
and forgiving one another,
if anyone has 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. 15 And let the
peace of God rule in your
hearts, to which also you
were called in one body;
and be thankful. 16 Let the
word of Christ dwell in you
richly in all wisdom,
teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord. 17 And
whatever you do in word or
deed, do all in the name of
the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father
through Him.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Today's reading reminds us of two influences in our lives (vv.9-10).
One is "the old man," that is, the person we were before trusting
Christ. The other is "the new man" who is becoming more like
Christ. We are to "put off" the behavior pattern of our old ways
and "put on" the new character qualities of Christ.