The Old Has To Go!
feel they There are some people who take an approach when witnessing to unbelievers that they have to list those things that believers just don’t do. This approach is probably not the best one for two reasons. The first reason is that when you are in the world, enjoying the things of this world it’s hard to believe that they will somehow all of a sudden lose interest in them. The second and most important reason is that it is hard to conceive of the miracle working power of our Lord to come and dwell within us and transform our thinking and lead us down an entirely different path with different wants and desires:
28 The thief [who has become a believer] must no longer steal, but instead he must work hard [making an honest living], producing that which is good with his own hands, so that he will have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].Ephesians 4:28-29 IAMP)
This scripture applies not only to those who have been participants in crime or other unseemly behavior; all of us have some vice or character trait which just plain needs to go! The amazing thing is when we begin to trust Christ with our life, He gives us the strength to put it packing, right out of our life:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.2 Corinthians 5:`7 (KJV)
And the best news of all Christ makes it easy for those new things to come.
Maria