EquippedSample

Let’s be honest, change can sometimes be a tough pill to swallow. As humans, we like comfortability. If we can keep with the status quo, we will. Oftentimes though, we just assume that change is a bad thing and nine times out of ten it is always painful and frustrating. Truth is, change can absolutely be a good thing. Sure, it can be difficult, but it can absolutely be for the best.

What happens when we put our faith in Jesus, is we go from being spiritually dead to spiritually alive. That’s a pretty major concept, but think about it for just a minute. Something else happens with that change. After we put our faith in Jesus, the Bible describes us as being “hidden with Christ.” In Colossians, there is a detailed list of things we should get rid of and things we should “put on.” This is part of what it looks like to embody the gospel. The good news of Jesus should spark a change in who we were compared to who we now are. Embodying the gospel is living for Jesus, it’s trying to align our hearts with His, it's choosing kindness, compassion, grace, and love over other things.

And it’s a process that’s called sanctification. It may not be overnight, it takes time to shed some of our old habits, our old ways. But the change, that process of sanctification, is so worth it. And we are called as Christ followers to live in accordance with God’s word. So we should seek to know his Word and seek to embody what it means to be a Christ follower.

Reflection Questions

• Head — Read Philippians 2:12-18. According to Paul, where does our motivation to live out the gospel come from? How does our new identity as children in the family of God play a role?
• Heart — You may have heard it said: “The gospel not only saves us from something but for something." Reflect on this statement. In what ways does the gospel continue to save us?
• Hands — Oftentimes, we pray more for the gifts of God than for God to do a work in us. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal some areas where you need to repent and more closely resemble Jesus. If you like to journal, this is a helpful prompt.