A New You In The New Year

Proclamation:

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

Explanation:

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the believers in Rome and he was counseling them, exhorting them, and encouraging them to follow the ways of Christ and not the ways of the sinful world.  He wanted them to live, speak, think, and act in such a way that would give God glory.

Application:

These biblical words also apply to the believers of today.  We need to live and speak in a manner which reflects that Christ is within us.  The beginning of a new year is a good time for a new beginning within our lives. There are things, habits, and people in all of our lives that we should let go of.  We need to stop acting like, and talking like the unsaved people in the world.  We need to change our behavior and our way of thinking, to transform and renew our mind, in order to be more consistent with the will of God.  With God's help, let us endeavor to be more Christ-like in this new year and for all of the years to come.