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Change Your Life - Part I
Ed Wrather
12.30.06
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - Romans 12:1-2.
Are you happy with your life? You may be reasonably happy with your life. There may be some things that you would change but not much. Having said that - there are, however, millions of people, possibly billions of people that are not that happy with their lives. Have you heard of “Second Life”? It is an Internet community, which appears to me to be for people who are not happy with their lives in the real world. Here is what the “Second Life” website says about it: “Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 2,260,866 people from around the globe. From the moment you enter the World you'll discover a vast digital continent, teeming with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity. Once you've explored a bit, perhaps you'll find a perfect parcel of land to build your house or business.”
Second Life has been so successful financially that the IRS is making plans to monitor and tax financial transactions taking place through the Second Life Internet community. Think about this, in Second Life up to $500,000 in user-to-user transactions take place every day, and the economy is growing by 10 to 15 percent a month. I think you can see what I am getting at. There are millions of people who have begun to work and play in what is essentially an imaginary, make believe world. For the vast majority of them they have entered into this virtual world because of their unhappiness, at least to some extent, with their real lives.
It may be that if you are unhappy with your life or even if you are happy with your life that you need a change. Why, you are probably thinking would do I need to change if I am happy with my life? Because you are not the only one involved. The rest of us are involved as well. What you do and what I do affects everyone else. But the most important reason to change our lives is - if God wants you to change. Have you asked God recently if He is happy with the way that you are living your life? If you were to ask God if He is happy with your life - what would He say?
Is there a sin, that you have been involved with? It is not like it has consumed your life but you have been dropping some grains of this sin into your spiritual life and you know you have. Every time you drop another grain of that sin into your life, it puts a little more distance between you and your Lord. Every time you drop another grain of that sin into your life, it slows down your spiritual fervor a little more. Every time you drop another grain of that sin into your life, you have more of a concern about what the world wants and what the flesh wants than you do about what God wants in your life.
What is it that is slowing you down spiritually? What is it that is decimating your spiritual world? What is it that is ruining your fellowship with your Lord? What is it that makes you care more about the things of this world than the things of God? If we are honest with ourselves, we all have some sin in our lives. As the apostle John writes in 1 John, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us (1 John 1:8; 10).” Isn’t it time to pray as the Psalmist prayed “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24).”
Do you want to change your life? The good news is that you can change if you have a desire in your heart to change. Just after the apostle John says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8).” He then gives us the good news, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).”
I think what the apostle Paul says in Romans 12:1-2 fits in well here as he says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” To change our lives we must present our bodies, our lives, all that we are to the Lord as living sacrifices. To change our lives we must no longer be conformed to this world, doing what this world wants, thinking what this world wants, living what this world wants - instead we must be transformed as Paul puts it “…by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Life in Reverse
We do not have to live life in reverse. We can shift gears and move forward with the will of God for our lives.
More Devotionals 2006
Change Your Life - Part II - Improve Your Life
(Part I was sent 12.30.06 and is posted at the website.)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - Romans 12:1-2.
In order to improve our physical health we not only need to eliminate those foods which our bad for us but we also need to eat foods that are good for us. Some of those foods are called antioxidants and the benefits of antioxidants are well known. To change your physical health for the better you need to stop the bad foods like Trans fats and add in the good foods that contain antioxidants like fruits and vegetables.
Spiritually it is much the same we need to stop pouring the grains of sin into our lives but at the same time we need to add in the spiritual antioxidants that will protect us from the damaging attacks of the world, the flesh, and the devil. There are three spiritual antioxidants that need to be added to the life, to be a part of the life of every Christian if they want their spiritual life to be changed and improved. What are they? They are not a super secret and like vegetables and fruits for the body, the spiritual antioxidants are available at very little cost and in great quantity. The spiritual antioxidants are Prayer, the Word of God, and the Church.
This is nothing new and yet only a small minority of those professing to be Christians actually take advantage of all three of these spiritual antioxidants. Let’s examine each of these spiritual antioxidants that have the potential of dramatically improving your spiritual life.
First, consider prayer, the Bible says about prayer in 1 John 15:14-15, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” Samuel Chadwick was a great man of God who preached in England beginning at the age of 21 during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Chadwick most famous quote is that, “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” William Carey, missionary to India, said, “Prayer - secret, fervent, believing prayer - lies at the root of all personal godliness.” How can you talk to the living God without His having an effect upon your life? Prayer will change, transform and improve your life.
Second, is the spiritual antioxidant of the Word of God. Jesus says in Matthew 4:4 quoting the Old Testament, “It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” In Ephesians 6:17b we read, “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” And in Hebrews 4:12 we are told, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Allow the Holy Spirit to use His sword, the Word of God. Read the Word, study the Word, memorize the Word, meditate upon the Word and your life will be changed, improved, and transformed.
The third spiritual antioxidant I want us to consider is the church. Make no mistake about the importance of the church. Christ loved the church. Christ died for the church. That should put the church in the proper perspective for you. In Hebrews 10:24-25 we are told very plainly, very bluntly, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” If you want to see your life changed, improved, and transformed, make a commitment to attend every service of the church regularly and faithfully. I made that commitment almost 30 years ago and I have never regretted it. I have never regretted the time that I have spent in church. No, the only thing that I regret is the years that I was not attending church regularly and faithfully. Dwight L. Moody that great evangelist of the 19th Century once said, “Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.” Change your life, improve your life, transform your life by attending church regularly and faithfully.
God has given us the spiritual antioxidants that we need to improve our lives. We cannot be living sacrifices to God unless we take advantage of the spiritual antioxidants of Prayer, Bible, and Church. Transform your life; improve your life by no longer being conformed to the pattern of this world. Instead, have a regular intake of Prayer, Bible and Church. It will change your life forever.
Copyright © 2007. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Prayer Requests: Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they will be forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group.
If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may subscribe by sending a blank email to [email protected]
Streaming Videos of some of my sermons are posted at: www.theburningbush.org/fbcswvideo.html
There is a complete devotional archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here is the URL: http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.
You can unsubscribe to the pure text version of the devotional by sending a blank email to [email protected] and then respond to the confirmation email.
You may subscribe to the html text group by sending a blank email to [email protected] and you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to [email protected] and then respond to the confirmation email.
Ed Wrather
12.30.06
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - Romans 12:1-2.
Are you happy with your life? You may be reasonably happy with your life. There may be some things that you would change but not much. Having said that - there are, however, millions of people, possibly billions of people that are not that happy with their lives. Have you heard of “Second Life”? It is an Internet community, which appears to me to be for people who are not happy with their lives in the real world. Here is what the “Second Life” website says about it: “Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 2,260,866 people from around the globe. From the moment you enter the World you'll discover a vast digital continent, teeming with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity. Once you've explored a bit, perhaps you'll find a perfect parcel of land to build your house or business.”
Second Life has been so successful financially that the IRS is making plans to monitor and tax financial transactions taking place through the Second Life Internet community. Think about this, in Second Life up to $500,000 in user-to-user transactions take place every day, and the economy is growing by 10 to 15 percent a month. I think you can see what I am getting at. There are millions of people who have begun to work and play in what is essentially an imaginary, make believe world. For the vast majority of them they have entered into this virtual world because of their unhappiness, at least to some extent, with their real lives.
It may be that if you are unhappy with your life or even if you are happy with your life that you need a change. Why, you are probably thinking would do I need to change if I am happy with my life? Because you are not the only one involved. The rest of us are involved as well. What you do and what I do affects everyone else. But the most important reason to change our lives is - if God wants you to change. Have you asked God recently if He is happy with the way that you are living your life? If you were to ask God if He is happy with your life - what would He say?
Is there a sin, that you have been involved with? It is not like it has consumed your life but you have been dropping some grains of this sin into your spiritual life and you know you have. Every time you drop another grain of that sin into your life, it puts a little more distance between you and your Lord. Every time you drop another grain of that sin into your life, it slows down your spiritual fervor a little more. Every time you drop another grain of that sin into your life, you have more of a concern about what the world wants and what the flesh wants than you do about what God wants in your life.
What is it that is slowing you down spiritually? What is it that is decimating your spiritual world? What is it that is ruining your fellowship with your Lord? What is it that makes you care more about the things of this world than the things of God? If we are honest with ourselves, we all have some sin in our lives. As the apostle John writes in 1 John, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us (1 John 1:8; 10).” Isn’t it time to pray as the Psalmist prayed “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24).”
Do you want to change your life? The good news is that you can change if you have a desire in your heart to change. Just after the apostle John says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8).” He then gives us the good news, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).”
I think what the apostle Paul says in Romans 12:1-2 fits in well here as he says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” To change our lives we must present our bodies, our lives, all that we are to the Lord as living sacrifices. To change our lives we must no longer be conformed to this world, doing what this world wants, thinking what this world wants, living what this world wants - instead we must be transformed as Paul puts it “…by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Life in Reverse
We do not have to live life in reverse. We can shift gears and move forward with the will of God for our lives.
More Devotionals 2006
Change Your Life - Part II - Improve Your Life
(Part I was sent 12.30.06 and is posted at the website.)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. - Romans 12:1-2.
In order to improve our physical health we not only need to eliminate those foods which our bad for us but we also need to eat foods that are good for us. Some of those foods are called antioxidants and the benefits of antioxidants are well known. To change your physical health for the better you need to stop the bad foods like Trans fats and add in the good foods that contain antioxidants like fruits and vegetables.
Spiritually it is much the same we need to stop pouring the grains of sin into our lives but at the same time we need to add in the spiritual antioxidants that will protect us from the damaging attacks of the world, the flesh, and the devil. There are three spiritual antioxidants that need to be added to the life, to be a part of the life of every Christian if they want their spiritual life to be changed and improved. What are they? They are not a super secret and like vegetables and fruits for the body, the spiritual antioxidants are available at very little cost and in great quantity. The spiritual antioxidants are Prayer, the Word of God, and the Church.
This is nothing new and yet only a small minority of those professing to be Christians actually take advantage of all three of these spiritual antioxidants. Let’s examine each of these spiritual antioxidants that have the potential of dramatically improving your spiritual life.
First, consider prayer, the Bible says about prayer in 1 John 15:14-15, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” Samuel Chadwick was a great man of God who preached in England beginning at the age of 21 during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Chadwick most famous quote is that, “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.” William Carey, missionary to India, said, “Prayer - secret, fervent, believing prayer - lies at the root of all personal godliness.” How can you talk to the living God without His having an effect upon your life? Prayer will change, transform and improve your life.
Second, is the spiritual antioxidant of the Word of God. Jesus says in Matthew 4:4 quoting the Old Testament, “It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” In Ephesians 6:17b we read, “…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” And in Hebrews 4:12 we are told, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Allow the Holy Spirit to use His sword, the Word of God. Read the Word, study the Word, memorize the Word, meditate upon the Word and your life will be changed, improved, and transformed.
The third spiritual antioxidant I want us to consider is the church. Make no mistake about the importance of the church. Christ loved the church. Christ died for the church. That should put the church in the proper perspective for you. In Hebrews 10:24-25 we are told very plainly, very bluntly, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” If you want to see your life changed, improved, and transformed, make a commitment to attend every service of the church regularly and faithfully. I made that commitment almost 30 years ago and I have never regretted it. I have never regretted the time that I have spent in church. No, the only thing that I regret is the years that I was not attending church regularly and faithfully. Dwight L. Moody that great evangelist of the 19th Century once said, “Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.” Change your life, improve your life, transform your life by attending church regularly and faithfully.
God has given us the spiritual antioxidants that we need to improve our lives. We cannot be living sacrifices to God unless we take advantage of the spiritual antioxidants of Prayer, Bible, and Church. Transform your life; improve your life by no longer being conformed to the pattern of this world. Instead, have a regular intake of Prayer, Bible and Church. It will change your life forever.
Copyright © 2007. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the devotionals on a non-profit basis with source credited. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On June 8, 1998 the email version of the Burning Bush Devotional was first sent.
Prayer Requests: Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the Prayer Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they will be forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group.
If you enjoy the devotional please recommend it to your friends. They may subscribe by sending a blank email to [email protected]
Streaming Videos of some of my sermons are posted at: www.theburningbush.org/fbcswvideo.html
There is a complete devotional archive at the old Burning Bush website. Here is the URL: http://www.theburningbush.org/33.html.
You can unsubscribe to the pure text version of the devotional by sending a blank email to [email protected] and then respond to the confirmation email.
You may subscribe to the html text group by sending a blank email to [email protected] and you may unsubscribe by sending a blank email to [email protected] and then respond to the confirmation email.
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