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“Homily Grits Devotional” http://www.homilygrits.com

Written by the wise 85 yr old Robert VanHoose @ http://www.homilygrits.com

Read Ephesians 4,
Psalm 119:128-140
November 10

“Putting off Self”

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Colossians 3:9-10 NIV

When we become disciples of Jesus we find ourselves dying to self and becoming alive in Christ. As the Holy Spirit performs the ongoing work of holy transformation, we experience a fundamental change into doing life God’s way instead of our selfish way.

When we turn our self-sufficiency into God-sufficiency we find it more than adequate for our every need.

As God continues to work on and in us, we find our self-confidence being replaced by God confidence, which makes us believe that we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us; and that God really is working all things for our good.

When we put off self-interest for God-interest, we find our focus on God and others instead of on ourselves.

As our self-promotion turns into God promotion, we discover the special joy of leading others to Christ. Our self-justification based on basing our right standing with God on our performance, is turned into faith justification when we believe we are justified by God’s grace and Jesus’ death on the cross, not our works.

Putting off self-seeking for God seeking takes us into the wonderful world of rewards God promises to those who seek Him.

We need to make a regular sober assessment of what part of self we are holding onto that needs to be put off, so that we can cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s work of conforming us into the image of Christ.

Father, Help me to live life selflessly instead of selfishly, that I might grow into the fullness of Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen