3/7 @ Crossroads

Posted on Sunday, March 7th, 2010 under Blog Posts.

Today we launch the third service.  I’m excited.  We’re about an hour and 15 minutes out and I’m excited to see how the service goes! A lot of people have put in a lot of work to get this service off the ground, and I’m hoping that we see this service become yet another place where people can come and hear about Jesus.

This morning in high school we talked about the old self vs. the new self, or the flesh vs. the Spirit.  Paul writes a LOT about these contrasts, and how we need to be careful to not let the old self win (the patterns and habits that we lived in before we knew Jesus) and that we need to follow the new self (the promptings of the Holy Spirit, living the way that God intended for us).

Here are a few passages to focus on to get a little background on the old and new self: Romans 7:14-25, Ephesians 4:22-32, Colossians 3:5-11, 1 Peter 4:3-5, 1 Peter 2:9-12, Galatians 5:16-24.

As you read those passages, keep in mind that God is so good to us that even when we’re tempted to sin and go back to the old self, God gives us a way out (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).

And remember that God has made us to live differently because we’re not from this world.  Our home is elsewhere.  Like Romans 12:2a says,  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Sherman the giraffe is a good example of that (see above picture).  He is covered in blue and purple spots.  Kinda random, but he’s different in a good way.  He stands out and chooses to be different from other giraffes. Yet he’s still a giraffe. He has spots, a long neck, and like horn-thingys atop his head. And like him, we need to be like other humans (being genuine, showing our failures and our victories, our hopes, our dreams, etc.) yet remaining different because we’re not like all other humans (we have the hope of Jesus in us, and he has changed us from the inside out- “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.” Ezekiel 36:26-28)

Be bold, and different, and confident in that.

Not creepy different, or weird different, but with humble confidence- you have the love of God, and His Spirit within you.

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