Athlete, You Are Being Renewed
Colossians 3:9-11
"Do not lie to one another, seeing that 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. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all."
Imagine you are a college athlete (like many of you are) and you still believed (and lived like) a high school athlete. You practiced the same way. You ate the same way. You worked out the same way. You thought the same way. You never grew up or matured. Just stayed the same. What would happen?
Maybe the early success would give way to mediocrity and frustration? Maybe all those around you would catch up to your ability and skill… even pass you in a lot of ways? Maybe you would just give up and quit?
In these verses Paul is telling us to put on the new self, don’t be the old self, and you are "being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." (A reference again to the preeminence of Jesus.) These words being renewed mean it is an ongoing process to be transformed to the new self. But the words put off means it has already happened and the words "put on the new self" means you are to do it!
All these things together call us to live out our faith through conduct, action, thoughts, and motives. It is not a one area of our lives that needs to grow, it’s all areas of our lives. Just like an athlete who is transitioning from high school to college, they must transition their whole being and hold nothing back.
Lastly it is important to note that there is no status distinctions among the people of God. No one has special claim on God or is treated with less dignity than any other. If you are a Christian, no matter your skin color, your background, your economic status, or your gender… you are called to be renewed by taking off the old self, putting on the new, and striving to know our creator.
As you go through the day be reminded that you are being renewed but that means you have to put off the old and put on the new. Ask God to continue to show you the ways you are living the old self.
"Do not lie to one another, seeing that 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. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all."
Imagine you are a college athlete (like many of you are) and you still believed (and lived like) a high school athlete. You practiced the same way. You ate the same way. You worked out the same way. You thought the same way. You never grew up or matured. Just stayed the same. What would happen?
Maybe the early success would give way to mediocrity and frustration? Maybe all those around you would catch up to your ability and skill… even pass you in a lot of ways? Maybe you would just give up and quit?
In these verses Paul is telling us to put on the new self, don’t be the old self, and you are "being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." (A reference again to the preeminence of Jesus.) These words being renewed mean it is an ongoing process to be transformed to the new self. But the words put off means it has already happened and the words "put on the new self" means you are to do it!
All these things together call us to live out our faith through conduct, action, thoughts, and motives. It is not a one area of our lives that needs to grow, it’s all areas of our lives. Just like an athlete who is transitioning from high school to college, they must transition their whole being and hold nothing back.
Lastly it is important to note that there is no status distinctions among the people of God. No one has special claim on God or is treated with less dignity than any other. If you are a Christian, no matter your skin color, your background, your economic status, or your gender… you are called to be renewed by taking off the old self, putting on the new, and striving to know our creator.
As you go through the day be reminded that you are being renewed but that means you have to put off the old and put on the new. Ask God to continue to show you the ways you are living the old self.
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2019
May
Athlete, God CreatesAthlete, You're Made In His ImageAthlete, RestAthlete, RememberAthlete, God UnitesAthlete, Don't FallAthlete, Pain and Frustration Will EndAthlete, Stop ComparingAthlete, There Is No Middle RoadAthlete, Step Out In FaithAthlete, You're CleanAthlete, Know The CovenantAthlete, Know the NationsAthlete, Divisions ExistAthlete, God Makes PromisesAthlete, WaitAthlete, Location MattersAthlete, Who Is Melchizedek?Athlete, You Are IncludedAthlete, God Sees YouAthlete, God Gives Us Signs
June
Athlete, Be RemindedAthlete, Be Honest With GodAthlete, Reflect On His MercyAthlete, God Keeps CoveringAthlete, The Wait Is OverAthlete, God Tests Athlete, Put On The QualitiesAthlete, Be ChallengedAthlete, God works Evil For GoodAthlete, Glory is ComingAthlete, God Saves Messy PeopleAthlete, God Provides Athlete, God's in Control Athlete, God is PatientAthlete, Step Out in FaithAthlete, See the MarkersAthlete, Take Time to PrayAthlete, Let's Talk About Fresh StartsAthlete, Love is The CureAthlete, Grace is OffensiveAthlete, See the ForeshadowAthlete, Don't ForgetAthlete, God is NearAthlete, Are You Willing To Learn?Athlete, Give Thanks
July
Athlete, Cultivate IntimacyAthlete, Take ComfortAthlete, You Have An InheritanceAthlete, God Uses All of UsAthlete, ConfessAthlete, Don't DoubtAthlete, Make RoomAthlete, Ask Your QuestionsAthlete, Do Not ChargeAthlete, Be Aware of Resistance Athlete, Know Your HeartAthlete, Don't Be Stubborn Athlete, Trust JesusAthlete, Have Risky FaithAthlete, We Were Created For JoyAthlete, Understand the Already Not YetAthlete, What Are You TrustingAthlete, ReflectAthlete, You're a Royal Priest Athlete, PauseAthlete, Recognize His PresenceAthlete, Seek Justice
August
Athlete, Remember WITH not FORAthlete, David Wasn't Always PerfectAthlete, Confess to an Audience of OneAthlete, Be Honest With GodAthlete, Take NoteAthlete, Recognize the Preeminent OneAthlete, Put it to DeathAthlete, You Are Being RenewedAthlete, This is Your New UniformAthlete, Whatever You Do, Do It For JesusAthlete, Use A Different FormulaAthlete, We Are FamilyAthlete, You Have Three Deep NeedsAthlete, Fan The FlameAthlete, Start The FireAthlete, Know The AntidoteAthlete, Choose PeaceAthlete, Peace is a WeaponAthlete, It Was Not A Silent NightAthlete, This is How You Experience Peace
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