Be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. – Ephesians 4:23-24
Each year in August, there is a show of restoration excellence featuring vintage motor vehicles that have been painstakingly refurbished until they appear as though they had just come from their original showroom. The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance vehicles are closely examined by expert scrutinizers, judges with finely-sharpened pencils, who check everything, even errant blades of grass stuck in tire treads.
God values you far above any classic motor vehicle. From the time you became a follower of Jesus Christ, He has had a renewal project within you, restoring, refreshing, renovating, and rejuvenating your heart, mind, and soul. He is not just refurbishing you but transforming you into something brand new until your original state is lost. This is an ongoing action. “Be renewed” in today’s verse is in the present tense. In the same way, putting on the new self involves laying aside the old self. Your thinking and your being undergo a complete change.
Theologian F. B. Meyer writes, “Do not try to build up Christ-likeness by your repeated endeavors. Just assume it by faith. Believe it is yours. Reckon that it is so. Go out believing that Christ’s likeness is on you, and His beauty clothing you as a beautiful robe; and men shall increasingly realize that it is not you but Christ.” Live in the newness of the life you have in Christ. Pray for Christians who are being closely scrutinized on Capitol Hill to so reflect the likeness of Christ in their lives that the Savior may be glorified.
Today’s Verse: Ephesians 4:23-24
and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Romans 6:5-11
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
