March 21, 2023 … Made New in Christ …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 80 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Allen Froese singing … Renew My Mind … poignantly and powerfully singing of how we Christians surrender to follow the will and ways of Christ in order to be made new in Spirit. 

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Highlight Passage: … 2Corinthians 4:16 [NLT] … 

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.    

…Paul shows fellow Christians that no matter what we go thru in life, even the worst suffering, it’s all to make us over into Christ’s image.                

Highlight Passage (Context): …  2Corinthians 4:16-18 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… The Apostle Paul teaches fellow Christians that they (we) are being made new … into the image of Christ.                .                     

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 51:10 [NLT] … 

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a loyal spirit within me.  

… A repentant King David sings of his desire to be remade into a loyal follower of the LORD.  

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 40:31 [NLT] … 

31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.  

… God’s promise, thru Isaiah, that those who trust in and follow God will be renewed in strength of spirit.    

Reference Passage: … Matthew 11:28-30 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus invites believers who trust in Him to yoke themselves (ourselves) to His strength and be need.    

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 5:17 [NLT] … 

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  

… Paul teaches fellow Christians that they (we) are being made new in Christ.        

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:22-24 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… Once again the Apostle Paul exhorts fellow Christians to make the choice to put on the new nature of Christ in the way we live in/for Him, … being made new in Christlikeness day-by-day.   

                                                                                                            

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Kimya Loder … AT THIS LINK …  … writes about centuries old techniques in various cultures to remove the outer layer of skin to do a make-over, making the skin look new and refreshed.  

But all of that is external, isn’t it?   The reality of what the ODB devotional today teaches is about a spiritual make-over when one comes to trust in Jesus as our Messiah, … making us over - in spirit - as we trust and follow Christ as our Lord and Savior.  

And I pray that all who read with me here today,  having taken in the linked song and meditated on the truth of God’s word above, are experiencing the renewal of spirit and the makeover of our lives into the image of our Lord, our Messiah, King Jesus, … the Christ!                                        

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for showing me the way to be made new to follow You, Lord, everyday.          .

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to surrender to You, Lord, as my Potter, reshaping me as Your clay, … into Your images day-by-day.    …  Amen               . 

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Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.