Snapshots
Biblical Truth
OF
My Mess
BIBLE REFERENCES:
Romans 6:4-6 (NIV) “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.”
Romans 12:1, 2 (NIV) “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) “Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
Ephesians 4:17, 18 (NIV) “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.”
Ephesians 4:22–24 (NIV) “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Philippians 1:27 (NIV) “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
Philippians 3:18-20 (NIV) “For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven.”
APPLICATION:
Left to myself, my messes seem to become bigger messes. You would think smart, educated people would be able to keep themselves free of life’s messes. But, unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case.
It seems life in general has a strong attraction for messes. Before long other people’s messes can become your mess if you are not careful. It seems most messes in life are created by our own undisciplined way of thinking. What we really need is a new way of thinking, a new mindset, a mindset created by God.
Being a Christian is more than a religious title. Being a Christian is living a transformed life with a renewed mindset. It is following the teachings of Christ, allowing God’s Holy Spirit to cleanse and recalibrate our minds and to guide and direct our lives. When this happens, our messes become smaller messes and eventually become no mess at all.
 | ||||
A PRAYER:
“God, help me to clean up my mess. Give me a new heart and a renewed mind so that I am able to stay on the path you have placed before me.”
SNAPSHOT:
