Christian Fellowship Community Group
A safe place for Christians who Love Jesus Christ to meet and ask for prayer and share scriptures from the bible. We value the posting of Christian music, poems, stories and also personal testimonies. Please let us know your needs, concerns and have some fun getting to know each other. We treat each other with respect.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
As a young believer, I remember hearing and reading this scripture very well. It always led me to this question "If I was made a new creature, why do I continue to do the things that I know I should not do?" The answer came to me when I was training my dog Blue. She had a tendency to pull really badly when we went on walks. I remember having blisters on my hand from the leash, she is very strong! To try and resolve this problem I went down to the local mom and pop pet store and spoke to the owner. He recommended using a pinch collar. I had always thought of these as being a little inhumane, but he reassured me that it was the most effective tool to accomplish my goal. I looked at my hands and walked out the door with the collar.
I was ready to begin working with Blue. My goal was for us to be able to enjoy each other on our walks. The pinch collar worked really well, as it set a boundary or consequence for pulling to hard. I had much more control over her and soon she began to walk by my side on a heal command. The more we practiced the easier things became, every day a little less resistance until I was able to remove the leash altogether and she would walk contently by my side.
One day not to long after I had trained Blue to heal, I was sitting in a service and the Lord began to speak to me. He reminded me of the question I had asked concerning 2 Corinthians 5:17. He showed me that years of walking in sin had programmed my mind to think a certain way. That the day I received the sacrifice that Jesus made, I was truly set free and made a new creature in Him. In other words I had been unleashed. I was free from the bondage of sin, but my mind was programmed to walk a certain way. The same way I had programmed Blue to stay by my side even when the leash had been removed.
So my spirit was translated out of darkness and into the everlasting light on the day I was born again. My mind however must be renewed. Years of programming must be unlearned and I must believe His truth. Prior to the born again experience I could only know sin and the ways of sin, now I can know the things that are freely given to me by God, but I must believe and in doing so prove the good, and acceptable, and the perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
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Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light. John 12:36, NIV
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According to His riches in glory refers to a biblical promise found in Philippians 4:19, which states that God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. This verse emphasizes God's provision and generosity towards believers.
This friend and I went to the same college (we used to be roommates). I would ignore her and walked away, and I knew she was hurt but I just couldn't find it in my mean heart to forgive her. I said to God "I know but I have not seen her around for quite sometime." That was my excuse for not forgiving her or try to find an opportunity to do it.
The next day I was at a post-office right at the window. I turned around, and there she was right behind me. I knew that it was God's answer to my excuse! I smiled and said to the girl, "How are you doing?" She acted like she was seeing a ghost (was shocked that I suddenly would speak to her.). We reconciled after that, and I felt good knowing I did what I was supposed to do as Christian.
Six months after I believed, in a church service the pastor talked about "'Surrendering all to God." I wanted to give my all to God and went up to the front with the other members to pray. God told me (once again) I had to "forgive" another person who I was angry with who was a member in the church. I prayed "Yes, I forgive him." After that day I felt I had passed in my faith to another level where I was able to obey God completely and get much closer to Him.
As I grew older (45 years older) I found it harder to forgive people who hurt me but I also feel that God's love never changes. I am not as forgiving as I was when I was 20. It is not easy to forgive someone who never apologizes for what he/she did that hurt me. I think someday I will be able to forgive the person(s). The best I can do now is to not causing any pains to those who did wrong to me. Praying for them is not easy either! I feel God knows why it is difficult and He is not holding it against me (I hope not!). Adults are more evil in their evil deeds, and the pains they cause to others can be severe. I hope I will eventually forgive them. So far I don't feel I have hurt the person(s) in any way. I do not wish them any harm, and they are not interested in having anything to do with me.
You and everyone have a good day today.
5 Then this message from the Lord came to me: 6 “Family of Israel, you know that I can do the same thing with you. You are like the clay in the potter’s hands, and I am the potter.” This message is from the Lord. Jeremiah 18
"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2 Cor. 3:18
The word "transform" is in the passive imperative, in both verses (Romans 12:2). It is also called the divine passive. It means God wants us to receive his gifts of growing in maturity in God. It is something we are commanded to obey. So God commands us to be transformed. The only other place this word is found is Jesus being transformed or transfigured on the Mount of Olives.
Thanks for posting this! This is my third time today, explaining that this is the purpose that God has called us and once we are transformed, then God uses us for his glory!