Loving God With All Your HeartSample

Loving God will change your behavior

“You have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:9-10)

Coming to faith and having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, will change you fundamentally. For people who come to faith at an early age, this change may be less visible from the outside than in people who lived without God for decades. In this respect, people who come to faith when they are young, may struggle less with sinful habits, since they did not yet develop that many. However, every one of us has sinful desires deep within. Paul calls this “the old self” or “what is earthly in you”. In Colossians 3:5 and 3:8 he mentions some examples: “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness… anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” All these things we must “put to death.” Instead, we are to resemble the image of our creator. This shows for example in humility, love, compassionate hearts and the willingness to forgive — just like Jesus does.

You cannot love Jesus Christ and ignore His will for your life. For if you love Him, His Spirit dwells in you and transforms you from within. Then you no longer want to grieve the One who loves you so much. You want to be like Him.

Do you desire to be more and more like Jesus? In which respect do you want to be like Him?