How have you matured as you have aged? Some grow and improve. Others keep making the same mistakes.
Is this true for you?
The Apostle Paul said “So we do not give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16 NCV) We really should grow each day, yet many simply do not.
And I’m not speaking of intellectual growth, even though that’s admirable. I’m speaking of the growth the Holy Spirit develops in us.
So, why isn’t the Spirit made new every day and then continues to grow?
Some don’t possess the Holy Spirit. Others who profess, may not possess the fruit of the Spirit. “The Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23 NCV)
Some may be saved, yet the sinful heart seems to win too often. If this is happening, at some point, one has to ask if they are truly saved and a Christ follower. If you are a Christ follower, you will follow Christ.
The Corinthians were believers but very immature. Paul told them “The teaching I gave you was like milk, not solid food, because you were not able to take solid food. You are still not spiritual, because there is jealousy and quarreling among you. Your’e acting like people of the world.” (1 Corinthians 3:2-3 NCV)
The Apostle Paul told the Hebrew Church; “So let us go on to grown-up teaching. Let us not go back over the beginning lessons we learned about Christ. We should not again start teaching about faith in God and about turning away from those acts that lead to death.” (Hebrews 6:1 NCV)
The bottom line is that as we age, yes the body is dying, but the Spirit should be renewed every day.
So how do we do this? First, we start the day with thankfulness to God. We should desire to love and learn about him (read our Bible). We should desire to be around others who love and follow Christ. Our lifestyle changes. Our taste in music, entertainment, health changes - and the list goes on. And we desire to love and forgive others. We share our faith and story. We grow in the fruit of the Spirit.
If we are not working toward a renewal, we simply are not being renewed each day. And there is nothing like the fresh, new appreciation and blessings from God on a regular basis. There really is nothing like it.
With my leukemia and aging body, this is my new motto for life - “So we do not give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16 NCV)
Maybe it’s time for you to develop a new motto in your life too 😍.
LORD, prepare me for eternity. Help me help others to prepare. Grow me. Please protect and provide for me. And when the day to die arrives, bless me in the process of death. Death is only a comma, then real life begins. Thank you for my salvation in Jesus Christ. IJNIP amen ♥️
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