New Christians are often surprised by the changes in their thinking. Things they used to do before they trusted Christ as their Saviour – no longer seem right to them. They worry that something they used to do, may not be consistent with the life that pleases Jesus and honours God. It’s like a new consciousness has been placed inside them.
Swear words that rolled off their tongue easily every day – suddenly sound inappropriate. Dirty jokes that were always dirty, now really do seem dirty. Weekend activities that once seemed so appealing and normal, now are questionable and feel wrong.
Of course, if you were very young when you trusted Christ, you may not have experienced or understood this change as much as an adult. But as one moves into their teens and becomes an adult, our sinful desires and decisions become more obvious. The older a Christian gets, the more we understand the wickedness of the human heart and what a miracle our salvation was.
Has your salvation interrupted your momentum towards more and more sin? Salvation changes things!
As a Christian, you have a new life. The Holy Spirit, who now lives constantly within you (from the moment of your conversion) generates new desires, new sensitivities and a new power you never had before.
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body. 1Corinthians 6:19-20
Read this verse to find out what the Holy Spirit is producing in your life:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control… Galatians 5:22-23
Yes, there is a struggle that goes inside. The Bible calls it the struggle between ‘the flesh and the Spirit’. Galatians 5:16-17 Incidentally, the new struggle inside, is one of the evidences of new life within you!
Romans 8:15-17 says your own human spirit relates to the new Resident living inside you – the Holy Spirit. He gives you a new sensitivity about eternal values, a new desire to please God, a new desire to love and have compassion on others, a new desire to be honest, etc.
Yes, your life will constantly be changing for the good – despite the little setbacks from time to time, when you are conscious of your failures and sin. But, you will see the trajectory of your life change!
A Christian wants to obey the Lord and His Word. Obedience to Christ is a new desire and is one of the evidences that you are genuinely saved. A Christian wants to please the Lord. 1John 2:3-4, John 14:15, John 10:27
A Christian loves others, and in particular, those who love Christ. There’s a bond that never existed before! John 13:35, 1John 3:14, 1John 4:7 Yes, they may annoy or upset you from time to time – but generally, there will be a certain love that never existed before.
A Christian loves their Bible – the Word of God. They have a thirst to read it and learn from it. Even though it can be a complicated book and a tough read at times – still there’s an inner thirst to read it. King David in the Old Testament loved the Lord and he frequently mentioned in his poetry (Psalms) his love for the Word of God. Psalm 19:8-10
Assignment for today:
- Re-read the verses above and pick one of them to memorize. Write it down on paper or on your phone and read it often today until you have memorized it.
- Think about some of the changes in your thinking and actions you have already noticed. Give the Lord the credit for the changes. Thank Him for changing you.
