Your old self, the one from your past and before the time of your renewal, was corrupted by your imperfect judgment and unjust desires. Now your new self, guided by righteous obedience, should turn away from all your former sins. Look ahead, always seeking God’s will, never returning to the old ways that separated you from your salvation. Forget the past.
So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship. Do not change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. Romans 12:1-2
You were taught to leave your old self – to stop living the evil way you lived before. That old self becomes worse, because people are fooled by the evil things they want to do. But you were taught to be made new in your hearts, to become a new person. That new person is made to be like God – made to be truly good and holy. Ephesians 4:22-24
Now that you are obedient children of God do not live as you did in the past. You did not understand, so you did the evil things you wanted. 1 Peter 1:14
You know that in the past you were living in a worthless way, a way passed down from the people who lived before you. But you were saved from that useless life. You were bought, not with something that ruins like gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ, who was like a pure and perfect lamb. 1 Peter 1:18-19
Lead Serve Love: 100 Three-Word Ways to Live Like Jesus can be purchased for Kindle here.
Want to read more of Gregory E. Lang’s devotions? Dive into Letters to a Friend: Simple Lessons in Christian Living, here.
