Where yesterday's "Personal Renewal Imperative" spoke of a commitment to allowing God to change us, today's "Demonstrating a Renewed Life" deals with the responsibility of living a renewed life that is visible.
We must display realistic methods of personal renewal, which means our public life must communicate our personal commitment to renewal.
What is different about us?
Does our renewal only show through our words? Or do we actually do things differently?
A commitment to personal renewal will include living a disciplined life. Words like "Bible student", "servant", "prayerful", "loving","fasted", "celebrating", and "worshipful" should apply to us.
Do we value relationships more and things less? Do we read different books and watch different movies? Do we control our tongue? Do we spend our lives in pursuit of something that has greater value?
What would our calendar, checkbook or library communicate to someone who didn't know us?
These are the things that will not only bring change, but will demonstrate to others our commitment to a renewed life. When friends from work (or church!) ask us over, what if we answered (sincerely), "I'm sorry. I have plans". And those plans were to fellowship with God in the Word or to commit ourselves to prayer for a season - prayer for them!
Surely we can confess renewal - maybe even commit to it - but I believe the real power is in demonstrating how to be renewed in our living.
James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
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