Nougat 17

Can you remember what your old nature was like; ie life Before Christ? For some of us it’s a dramatic piece filled with different scenes. Others of us might have less drama to the extent that we scarcely can tell the difference. Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to think about the difference.

“Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Regardless of the extent of our conversion we all have a new nature in Christ. That’s what keeps us grounded by God’s grace and helps us focus on Christ our Savior. If we have not noticed any changes in our attitude since accepting Christ, it may be time to get on our knees to seek God’s direction on what we have been missing out.

For, in Christ, we find ourselves seeking to be in the presence of God’s Spirit, more open to sharing the Good News of Christ’s death and resurrection and also a having a shift in our attitude. That’s part of the ‘new creation’ that we experience when we are in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). And we know that righteousness is not natural to us; for righteousness is the outer sign of what has taken place on the inside with God.

We may live morally upright lives prior to Christ; true righteousness however, is our response to and a reflection of the Spirit of God determining the course of our actions. Thus, it’s more about God’s Spirit at work in us than it is about our own efforts (see Isaiah 64:6). Of course, the best bit is that in dying, Christ took on our sinfulness so we might be as if we’d never sinned. Hence we’re assured that we become God’s righteousness in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).

That’s what sets us apart. For again, like righteousness, holiness is not about our own efforts. The closest we get to making ourselves holy is our decision to accept Jesus as Lord. Because holiness speaks to our set-apartness for God’s service in Christ Jesus through God’s Spirit. And like righteousness, holiness is an outer reflection of God’s inner activity in our hearts.

Holiness does not mean we get to ‘lord it’ over others. It simply reminds us that we are God’s (ie belonging TO God) and not under our own jurisdiction. And though it happens upon our acceptance of Christ as Lord of our lives, we don’t always see the difference immediately as our old self still desires to be in control. Hence Paul’s invitation to embrace (ie put on) our new nature. This is just as important now amid all we face in these challenging times as it was in the days of the early church.

I invite us once again to think – how have we changed to be more like Christ since confessing our faith in Him?

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May all we seek be found in Christ