Am I? I AM Being Renewed

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

Who is doing the renewing? Maybe it is a better question to ask whose responsibility is it to bring forth renewing? Does God expect you to wake up every day and start renewing your mind and habits? At this point it might be helpful to let Paul’s letter to the Colossians to give us some insight.

• 9 Do not lie to each other,
  • This phrase is a connector to verse 8 in which Paul lists some (not all) of the deeds of the flesh – 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
  • Lying to one another would include hypocrisy. Confessing sins to one another brings healing. 
  • Acting like we have it all together thwarts the free flow of Christ’s forgiveness  and the dependency on Him to be our Saviour.
• since you have taken off your old self with its practices
  • This is a past action.
  • The greek verb for taken off can be translated – Stripped off, or emphatically denounced (the compound wording indicates extreme forcefulness of action)
  • Likewise it includes a renouncing of all of the behaviors associated with the old sinful man or nature.  
  • I used to be that person, but no longer
• and have put on the new self, 
  • The verb tense of “have put on” is aorist which indicates a past action.
  • New in this since it is like a birth that has happened. 
  • As you decided to become a follower of Jesus – a new birth, a new creation has been born.
  • No action of goodness performs this new birth – It is the Lord’s doing. He makes all things new
• which is being renewed in knowledge
  • Being renewed is in the present tense which indicates ongoing activity.
  • Think of it like a geometrical definition of a “ray”. It has a beginning point and starts moving in a line which continues on and on and on
  • He, God, who began a good work in you is completing this work
  • He is adding life to your thoughts about who you are as a son or daughter of the most High.
• in the image of its Creator
  • This is a reference to Genesis 1 in which mankind was created in the image of God.
  • You have the ability to interact, communicate, and dialogue with God, just like Adam and Eve had before the fall.
  • To be created in His image includes the ability to be your best self in a way that honors God with your motives.

How you feel about being renewed is that last car on the train. God’s Word is the engine that is leading your life down the right track. He says you are being changed from glory to glory and He is inspiring you with thoughts that are in agreement with this change.

I like to start my receiving with a physical activity of my hands slightly extended with my palms turned up. There is nothing in my palm, but it is turned toward heaven ready to receive whatever God may have for me at this moment. My part is to believe, thank Him and say “yes, Lord”.

• I offer to him, my life -good and bad,
• my thoughts – for Him to renew,
• my tongue – for Him to speak to me and others,
• my eyes – to read His word and have compassion on others,
• my time – to be about my Father’s business,
• my frustrations -for I cast my cares upon HIm who cares for me.

Be encouraged on this day. You are being renewed with new thoughts about who you really are and the potential to be all that God created you to be. Am I? I AM being renewed in knowledge of my wonderful relationship with God in Christ.

Blessings Love y’all