CAC Living Water Daily Devotional– A New Man (II)

CAC Living Water Daily Devotional 9th December 2021 – A New Man (II)

DATE: Thursday, December 9, 2021. International Anti-Corruption Day and World Genocide Commemoration Day

TOPIC: A NEW MAN (II)

READ: Colossians 3:1-17

[1]If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

[2]Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

[3]For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

[4]When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

[5]Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

[6]For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

[7]In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

[8]But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

[9]Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

[10]And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

[11]Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

[12]Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

[13]Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

[14]And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

[15]And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

[16]Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

[17]And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

MEMORISE: And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:17)

EXPOSITION

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The desire of God for us is that we should be like Christ in all things. In like manner, becoming more like Christ should be the desire of every believer (cf. Rom. 8:29). Making us Christly is God's work, and He will see it through to the end (Phill. 1:6). The image of Christ must be portrayed all around us. We must do everything according to the name of Christ. Our deeds and words must glorify God, because we are called to be like Him in everything. If our words and deeds do not glorify God, then our lives won't please and glorify Him.

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All we do in word or deed must be done in the name of Christ, according to His command and authority, by the strength derived from Him, and with an eye to His glory (1 Cor. 10:31). We must pray in the name of Christ, give alms in the name of Christ, and worship God alone through the name of Christ. All things must be done to the glory of God the Father, through Christ Jesus, and with the help of the Holy Spirit.

To be a new man is to present one's body as a living sacrifice unto God and to live a corruption-free and help in preserving human life rather than taking it, as world celebrates Anti-Corruption Day and World Genocide Day today. Apostle Paul mentioned this to the Corinthian church, saying, 'Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's' (1 Cor. 6:19-20). We need to be reminded that we are adopted children of God. We are called to represent Him as His ambassadors here on earth, reflecting His image to the sinful world.

The new man must show appreciation to God in all things. We must give thanks, in all things. We must give thanks to God when things are going as we expect and when otherwise. Why? The Bible says, '...all things work together for good to those who love God' (Rom. 8:28). We must give thanks always for all things. The Lord Jesus must be the Mediator of our praises as well as of our prayers. Hallelujah!

PRAYER POINTS

1. O Lord, help me to show more gratitude to You that will make me experience more of You all my life.

2. O Lord, let me experience the divine work of miracles through Your name.

3. Lord, let the focus of evangelistic outreaches in our churches be more soul-winning and soul-developing focused.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Ezek. 47:17 - 48:35; Dan. 1:1 - 1:21; 1 Jn 4:15 - 5:14