Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

May 16
Friday


DRAGON SKIN

READ:
Ephesians 4:17-24
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Put on the new man
which was created
according to God, in
true righteousness
and holiness.
__Ephesians 4:24
_____________________________________

In the fifth Chronicle of Narnia, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,
Edmund, Lucy, and their spoiled cousin Eustace is tempted by enchanted treasure and turned into a dragon. The desperate dragon accepts the help of the great lion Aslan, King of Narnia. But Eustace can only be freed by allowing Aslan's claws to painfully tear off the dragon's flesh. Grateful for his deliverance, Eustace chooses to become a better boy.

Receiving God's gift of salvation through Christ is a one-time event, but to become like Him often requires suffering and struggle. It involves putting off old sinful habits and replacing them with new godly ones. Paul wrote, "Put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt... [and] put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness" (Eph. 4:22-24).

What is troubling you today? God may be using the kind rebuke of a friend or a painful trial to prompt you to get rid of a sinful habit and to replace it with godly character (Rom. 8:29; 1 Peter 4:1-2).

The process of becoming like Christ is sometimes painful, but it's always worth it. __ Dennis Fisher
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````````````````````To be like Jesus is our goal,``````````````````
```````````````````Though it doesn't happen fast;`````````````````
```````````````````We trust the Spirit as our Guide````````````````
```````````````````Till we're glorified at last. __Branon`````````````
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The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment;
the growth of a saint is the work of a lifetime.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ Ephesians 4:17-24***********

17 This I say, therefore, and
testify in the Lord, that you
should no longer walk as
the rest of the Gentiles
walk, in the futility of their
mind, 18 having their
understanding darkened,
being alienated from the
life of God, because of the
ignorance that is in them,
because of the blindness
of their heart; 19 who, being
past feeling, have given
themselves over to
lewdness, to work all
uncleanness with
greediness.

20 But you have not so
learned Christ, 21 if indeed
you have heard Him and
have been taught by Him,
as the truth is in Jesus:

22 that you put off,
concerning your former
conduct, the old man which
grows corrupt according to
the deceitful lusts, 23 and be
renewed in the spirit of
your mind, 24 and that you
put on the new man which
was created according to
God, in true righteousness
and holiness.

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

Paul models for us a wonderful preoccupation of spiritual intimacy
with Christ. In Philippians 3:10, he wrote, "That I may know
Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His
sufferings, being conformed to His death." Such intimacy involves
not only knowing doctrinal truth but also having the experience of
the Savior Himself. The resurrection power that brought Christ back
from the dead is the basis for living for Him (Rom. 8:11; Eph. 1:19.
20). The "fellowship of His sufferings" refers to bearing the cross of
discipleship (col. 1:24). And conformity to Christ's death includes
recognizing that the old sin nature has been crucified (Rom. 6:6).
We have "put off" the "old man which grows corrupt" (Eph. 4:22),
and instead "put on the new man which was created according to
God, in true righteousness and holiness" (v.24). __Dennis Fisher