"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:1-2. All who become new creatures in Christ will bring forth "the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance". Galatians 5:22-23. They will no longer make or form themselves to give special treatment to the former lust, but by the faith of the Son of God, to follow in His footsteps and make known the way He thinks, feels, and behaves; and to be free of guilt, bad morals or blemishes; being as themselves even as He is, pure. The things we once hated we now love. We love being in the presence of the Lord, worshiping Him and even gathering with the saints: the things we loved, the wrong things, we now hate. The proud and self-confident in behavior or fashion, the vain, now become meek and lowly in heart. You might know someone having those traits of showing these proud and unpleasant attitudes, those people who think they are better or more important than other people. They become too serious about attracting attention in ways that bother you. But good news! They too, can be changed! The Bible tells us that the drunkard becomes sober, the shameless and immoral become pure, and the vain customs and social standards of the world are put aside.
As Christians, it is not our outward appearance which is most important, but what is on the inside of the heart, we seek to beautify the inner man, that which is not corruptible even the ornaments a meek and quiet Spirit. (1 Peter 3:3-4). If there is no evidence of true or real repentance, how can we work on or improve or even correct our faults or problems? If we restore that which was taken and give again, confess our sins and love God and our fellow man, we may be sure that we have passed from death into life. Because where we were sinful people we have now come to Christ, and are now able to share in God's pardoning grace. Love will fill up our hearts and all our burdens become light because the yoke that Christ established is easy. Work becomes a delight, sacrifice becomes a pleasure, our path that was dark becomes a path of light. God's ways will be seen in us, His Children, because it was Jesus' delight to do the will of His Father. In Jesus' life, loving God and an eagerness of having a very strong feeling for His glory was the controlling power in Him. Love enabled all His actions because God is love. If your heart isn't strong towards God, great respect and love for Him and His ways cannot begin to exist, nor can your heart produce love for others, because it's only found in the heart where Jesus rules and abides. The love we now have is because He first loved us, just as we were, unconditionally. (1 John 4:19). The heart that has been renewed by the incoming Spirit of God is good and has moral qualities; it's the principal of our actions, it causes us to change on how we feel, think and behave; it controls and directs our impulses and controls our passions. With a renewed heart and mind, we can love as Jesus loves us; with a love that sweetens the life and gives off pure and perfected influences on all around us. Yes, Lord, fill us up with all of Yourself, Your Spirit, as we are renewed and able to walk in newness of life, with a new beginning and a new self.
