“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” – Ezekiel 11:19 (NIV).
When someone becomes a Christ follower, depending on culture, there are certain rituals one undertakes like water baptism to identify with Christ. In some instances there could be a change of names embracing those which are identified with Christ followers. There are those that once they have accepted Christ start to wearing crosses or badges that promote the name of Christ. We often run into cars bearing sticker for Christ. In other words one could assume many outside symbols as proof of being a follower of Christ.
But just then at the same time there are also those symbols that are not very obvious to the world. The first is change of heart. The scriptures say,
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor 5:17). The significance here is that in the life of a Christ follower, it is not just outward symbols that matter but also one’s actions that stem from a changed heart, touched by the grace of God.
Ephesians 4:22-24 challenges us, “To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to 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.” Here we see, it is not just the outward clothing that matters but a “new self” revealed in a new behavioral pattern. If a car is paraded with stickers for Christ yet the owner needlessly jumps the queue then perhaps Christ has yet to transform the driver into a new more considerate person!
The issue here is symbols or any Christian rituals may be easy to embrace but what of the heart! Today let us surrender our hearts to begin that work of transformation, which in the end could be the best proof that we are now followers of Christ.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray that you renew my heart and make me a new person in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, I pray.
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18/04/2024 - 19/04/2024 All day“In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-7).
Once a certain gentleman saw a small mount of soil rising in one of his sparsely used bed rooms in his country house. He went back to the city unbothered. Upon his return he was shocked to find that what was once a small soil mount had grown into a huge anthill almost blocking the entrance. How did it get this big!” he whistled with disbelief.
Anyone who has leveled anthills knows that you need to dig up one down to the very bottom and seize the queen ant. So, in this case, it meant he had to excavate to the very foundations of the house. It was a costly venture involving destroying much of the original infrastructure.
So, what had begun as a small foothold in his house almost caused the gentleman to lose his entire beautiful country house. After all was done, he regretted why he had not attacked that small mount of soil the day he had spotted it but then ignored. He would have saved himself all this huge cost.
When the Bible cautions us, “and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27), it is not speaking of some big and overwhelming sin that is gripping a believer. Just as with that soil mount a foothold starts as a small poisonous seed dropped into one’s life appearing harmless at the start. But ignored it gradually grows into one huge tree with deep roots that to uproot it a life may go with it altogether.
For Believers there are all kinds of footholds. It could be unwholesome little talk spaced with curses. Sometimes it is occasional dabbling into harmful alcoholic beverages or dangerous drugs. There could be that small habit of helping oneself with company funds against policy. There is also that seemingly innocent peep into porn sites, after all, no harm!
Ignored, the once small foothold gradually extends into one huge and terrifying mountain, not that easy to level as it now completely controls its victim. To level it down would come at such a stiff price. For this reason, do not take lightly any temptations that come your way. The moment you give the devil an inch you are in for a long ride!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, I pray to guard myself against any foothold the devil might trap me with, to live a victorious life in Christ, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
