Live Free with Josh Howerton - Embrace Your New Life In Christ | Ep. 80 | Friday May 26, 2023

Episode Date: May 26, 2023

Because of Jesus, believers can have an eternal perspective and experience eternal living with God in a here-and-now reality. In today's episode, Pastor Mike discusses the concept of new life and emphasizes the importance of getting rid of our old sinful nature and putting on a new nature, which is full of truth. So, are you ready for a new life? The choice is yours. For more information, visit lakepointe.church/dailydrive

Thanks for tuning in to today's Daily Drive with Lake Point Church, a daily dose of God's word for your morning drive. When the word, not the world, becomes the majority of your week, your life will start to change. For that reason, our prayer is that God will speak to you through today's devotional. For more digital content to feed your faith, visit lakepoint.comit. Church slash daily drive. And now let's dive in to today's devotional. Hey, welcome to The Daily Drive. I'm Mike Bro, and so grateful that you've tuned in. We've been talking about new life in recent days as we walk through a letter in the New Testament called Colossians, and we are in Chapter 3. And the last time we were together, we read about how through Jesus we now have an eternal perspective. Our eyes, our minds, our hearts are focused now on our real home as we just try to make a difference in the one we're currently living in. I love the title of a book by my buddy John Orberg, and you all really ought to read this sometime. It's called, called Eternity is now in session. I love that title.

He dispels the myth that eternal life is something way out there in outer space that we can only hope to experience after we die. And that being saved is merely about meeting the minimal entrance requirements for getting into heaven. Instead, John unpacks the reality that the moment we trust in Christ, we are initiated into eternal living with God as a here and now reality, one that will continue beyond our life here on earth, and I'm telling you that perspective that eternity is now in session, that changes everything.

So in chapter 3, the writer of this letter, Paul, tells us that we have entered into this new life, one that lasts forever. And today he talks about how that for anything to be new, the old has to go. It has to die. Verse 5, he says, so put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. He's just saying, because that's not who you are anymore. It's just not who you are anymore. That doesn't fit your new normal.

Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy. For a greedy person is an idolatier. Worshipping the things of this world, putting little G gods in the place of the one true God. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. That stuff is not only super destructive to everybody involved

and heartbreaking to God. He's saying, but that was like your old normal. Verse 7, you used to do these things. That was the way you used to live. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now, in the new normal, is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malice, malicious behavior,

slander and dirty language. There's no place for that anymore. You can't do that stuff and rant on social media and have, I love Jesus in your profile. That no longer fits your new profile. Don't lie to each other. This new normal is full of truth,

for you have stripped off your old, sinful nature and all of its wicked deeds. Instead, put on the new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your creator and become like him. Now, Paul is using the imagery here of taking off and putting on clothes. Now, I've told you before, I love to do construction remodeling projects. I was working on a house project a few weeks ago. I did a bunch of demo. Whenever you do demo, you're going to be covered in sawdust and sweat, and I had filth all over me from attic insulation that scratchy fiberglass stuff and drywall dust and some unknown stuff from old sewage pipes and toilets.

I mean, it's gross. I mean, everything on me was flat out nasty with a capital N. So I go home, take a shower, and I peel off all those clothes, and it's like they're in a pile right by the shower. It looked like green smoke. It's coming off these clothes. I mean, the smell could have killed like a New York City rat. I mean, it was nasty, nasty pile of clothes. I got in the shower, and I can't remember a shower feeling as good as that.

that one did in recent memory. Oh, man, it felt so good. Got that, you know, body wash stuff all over and shampoo. Okay, so I don't use shampoo. But it felt so good to be clean. I stepped out of that shower. I dried off, and I reached down, I picked up that sweaty t-shirt, and I put it back on, and I grabbed those nasty socks,

and I put, oh, there's no way. There's no way I would have done that. And Paul is saying to the readers here, which would now be us, Remember how it felt to be made clean and new and fresh? Remember what it felt like when you came up out of the waters of baptism? Your old life was buried, all your sins were washed away. Man, don't be picking up those old, smelly, nasty clothes like anger, malice, rage, lies, and slander, and putting them back on. Man, that would just be crazy.

Rather, put on the new nature. Put on these new designer fashions that God has picked out for you. Now, I'm not a big clothes guy. I'm not super stylish. But a buddy of mine, he got a shirt from his mom for Christmas. She told him, he said, if you don't like it, just give it to bro. He'll wear anything. And I do.

I do most of my shopping at thrift stores. I got one suit and about 10 hoodies. That's about it. Let's skip down to verse 12. The clothes that God laid out for you and me are not only super attractive and perfect for any occasion. These clothes never go out of style. He says this. You must clothe yourselves with tender heart at mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Make allowance for each other's faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. Now, the imagery of clothing back in their day would be one of flowing robes and sashes and hoods and such. So you got mercy flowing over here. It got some kindness flowing over here. You got some patience flowing over here, some forgiveness. And he says, now, like a belt, tie the whole assembly together with love.

That will complete your new look. So maybe today, as you dress that way, people will look at you and go, dang, I love your fit, man. That kindness, it looks good on you. Man, that patience, it just hangs on. on you so well. Now, man, I got to tell you, your mercy is absolutely stunning. That forgiveness is drippy. Where in the world did you get that belt? Your love, it just makes the whole outfit work. Gang, that's our new clothes. Wear them well today. See you next time. Thanks for tuning in today. For more biblical teaching and worship,

join us for our church online live weekend services on Saturdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 9.30 and 11 a.m. Central Standard Time. Also, if this podcast was helpful to you, would you be sure to rate, review, and share this podcast to help get the word out? For more information about all digital ministries of Lake Point, visit lakepoint.compt.com.