Compiled and with Interjection By: Lisa K Gonzales
From: The Life Application Study Bible
7 “Remember your leaders who first taught you the Word of GOD. Think of all the good that has come from their lives and trust the LORD as they do. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your spiritual strength comes from GOD’s special favor, not from ceremonial rules about food, which do not help those who follow them.” ~ Hebrews 13:7-9
If you are a Christian, you owe much to others who have taught you and modeled for you what you needed to know about the Good News and Christian living. Continue following the good examples of those who have invested themselves in you by investing in your live through evangelism, service, and Christian education.
Though human leaders have much to offer, we must keep our eyes on Christ, our ultimate leader. Unlike any human leaders, He will never change. Christ has been and will be the same forever. In a changing world we can trust our unchanging Lord.
Apparently some were teaching that keeping the Old Testament ceremonial laws and rituals (such as not eating certain foods) was important for salvation. But these laws were useless for conquering a person’s evil thoughts and desires. – “These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and sever bodily discipline. But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person’s evil thoughts and desires.” – Colossians 2:23 – To the Colossians, the discipline demanded by the false teachers seemed good, and legalism still attracts many people today. Following a long list of religious rules requires strong self-discipline and can make a person appear moral, but religious rules cannot change a person’s heart. Only the Holy Spirit can do that. Ceremonial rules and religious laws can influence conduct, but they can not change the heart. Lasting changes in conduct begin when the Holy Spirit lives in each person.
People should be able to see a difference between the way Christians and non-Christians live. Still, we should not expect instant maturity in new Christians. Christian growth is a lifelong process. Although we have a new nature, we do not automatically think all good thoughts and have all pure attitudes when we become new people in Christ. But if we keep listening to GOD, we will be changing all the time. As this year comes to a close, look over your life and the changes that have occurred. What changes for the better have you seen in your thoughts and attitudes? Change may be slow, but your life will change significantly if you trust GOD to change you.
Father GOD, as this year comes to an end may we look back and see the events of the past year that have occurred in our lives and strive to make better changes in our thoughts and attitudes in the coming new year and the years to come. We do not always have good thoughts and pure attitudes, but we know that if we keep listening to YOU, Father GOD, we will be changing on a daily basis. Our change may be slow LORD, but we know that we will change significantly if we trust YOU to change us. We ask for a spiritual awakening and renewal of our thoughts and attitudes and that YOU will fill every aspect of our lives to the fullest with YOUR Holy Spirit.
Photo: Truckee (California)
Photo By: Lisa K Gonzales
Click on the photo to enlarge
