Do I Want to Be a Mushroom or an Oak Tree in How I Grow?

In review of Ephesians 4:24 it says, “Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (NLT).

Today’s verse is from the last part of Ephesians 4:22-24. It tells me to throw off my old sinful nature and my former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes. Put on my new nature, created to be like God, truly righteous and set apart for a purpose.

My old way of life before I believed in Christ is completely in the past. It should be put behind me and discarded. My life should no longer be driven by desire and impulse. Now I am to put on a new nature, head in a new direction, and have a new way of thinking that the Holy Spirit gives me.

I’m reminded this morning that when God wants to remove the defects in my life, he doesn’t just snap his fingers so that it happens instantly. He does it incrementally. When God wants to make a mushroom, he takes six hours, but when God wants to make an oak tree, he takes 60 years.

So, do I want to be a mushroom or an oak tree?

The Holy Spirit will make changes in my life far beyond anything I thought was possible, but they’re not going to happen overnight. I would like my life, through the work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God and with support from other believers, that I will be more mature everyday, more Christlike, and further along in his purpose for me 10 years from today.

In order to be stronger emotionally, physically, spiritually, psychologically, and financially, I’ve got to be intentional about it. This is much like what I’m learning through Financial Peace University  God’s Word tells me to, “Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:24 NLT).

This is how I become more like Jesus. The apostle Paul says, “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him” (2 Corinthians 3:18 TLB).

Bottom Line:

Put on the new self, created to be like God, upright and holy.

What this means to me:

I must put on my new self, which is created in God's likeness and which reveals itself in the true life that is upright and set-apart for a purpose.

In summary, I need to throw off and discard my old sinful nature and former way of life, which had been corrupted by lust, deception and selfishness. Instead, I need to let the Spirit renew my thoughts and attitudes. Put on my new nature, one that is created to be like God, truly righteous and set apart for a purpose. I'm reminded that when God removes defects in my life, he doesn't do it instantly, rather he does it incrementally. But to be different and changed, I've got to be intentional about it.  

Father I believe I have been a bit too arrogant about my past knowledge and understanding of things. I need to be humble, and open to learning and not thinking that I know it already or that I’m a gift to others. This morning father I pray for assistance in being humble, generous and intentional. I also ask for your wisdom and guidance in handling my day to day activities, my leadership and how I interact and respond to others. Father please fill me with your Spirit today and remind of the things that I’m learning and more importantly to put them into practice. I pray these things though your Son Jesus name, amen!