Do you remember back in the good ol' day when we did anything we wanted and nothing ruled us, nothing stopped us and the world was ours? There was no one that we had to answer to and we definitely did not have any feelings of conviction. You had no fear of God and you were your own master. Well, I am sure at that time you did not view it in that way. You more than likely just were in the mindset that you just wanted to have fun in this life. And surely that was what it was all about!
.... then you longed for more and God called you, found you and forgave you! That is what I call mercy.
So you have been saved. What now? Want to live right?
Colossians 3 1-10, 12-17 Rules for Holy Living
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Isaiah 43:18 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
Ezekiel 36:26 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.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
If you are a new Christian or maybe you have been a Christian but have not lived your belief out faithfully, start over! God wants you to be whole, pure and without blemish. We most certainly are not perfect and God does not expect us to be-- were forgiven. God forgives us, so forgive yourself. We all have made mistakes in the past and wish we hadn't done certain things. Start over... begin afresh! Today is a new day and a new piece of paper to write on. If your last piece was messy with holes in it... here is your new paper. Start new! Even nature starts afresh in the spring, look at the flowers and trees in the winter. Spring comes and God begins a new work in them and they bloom like the beautiful creation God had planned for them. Be the flower with color, the tree with new blooms, the wonderfully drawn picture and you will see God's work of art in yourself!
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