Passage of the Day:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform 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, Romans 12:1-12.
Reflection:
Addicts don’t wake up one morning and suddenly say, “I’ll never take this drug ever again.” While experiencing alcohol poisoning at age 24 did result in me giving up drinking, this is not normal. Human nature has a way of distracting, enticing and luring Christians away from God and into sin, James 1:13-15. As a new year is in its infant stage, now is the time to get it right, by turning away from sin and toward God.
Prayerful Action:
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want, Galatians 5:16-17.
Renewing Your Mind:
The book of Revelation opens with seven churches that are given a spiritual update by God on how they are doing. John highlights good and bad news of each congregation. Apparently. Christians in the church of Laodicea were living mediocre spiritual lives, going through the motions without any joy or passion for life, Revelation 3:15-16. As the newness of 2024 is present in your mind, seek to avoid a lukewarm spirit by getting your life right with God, James 5:20.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
Nicodemus is mentioned three times in the New Testament. The first in John 3:1-17 as a Pharisee afraid to be seen with Jesus in public. John 7:50-52 shows Nicodemus defending Jesus as his peers accuse him of being one of his followers. Finally, John 19:38-42 reveals that Nicodemus got his life right with God by entering into a personal relationship with Jesus, Romans 10:9-10.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 