14. Accepting a New Heart
Please remember to pray before
reading!
Yesterday we learned that just as the
invisible wind blows, so the Holy Spirit works powerfully in our lives, to
change us for the better. As we allow God to do His cleansing work in us, we
become new creatures in Christ. God gives us new motives and new interests.
There is an obvious difference. The entire focus of our lives changes. We are
born again.
2 Corinthians 5:17 In Christ, we become totally new;
old things pass away.
John 3:8 The Spirit working in our lives is invisible,
but the results are obvious.
Galatians 5:22, 23 The fruits of the Spirit will
appear in the life of those who are born again.
1 Peter 3:4 God wants us to focus on the inward
adorning, not on externals.
1 John 4:8,10 True love comes from God, as He is the
source.
Hebrews 10:16 God wants to write His law on our
hearts.
1 John 5:3 We reveal our love to God by our willing
obedience to His commandments.
Ephesians 2:8 We are saved by grace through faith.
James 2:17 Our genuine works in response to love
reveal that we do indeed have true faith.
1 John 2:3-6 We can tell if our conversion is genuine
if it leads us to obey Gods commandments.
1 Peter 2:21 Jesus is our example in all things, even
in being willing to suffer for His sake.
Galatians 2:20 Self must die, so that it no longer
controls us. Christ is to live in us, and direct our lives.
James 2:19 Mere belief is not enough; it must be a
deeper faith that operates by love.
Psalm 119:97 When we are born again, we have a new
love for God's law; it becomes our daily meditation.
Romans 8:1 Being in Christ means that the Holy Spirit
in control of our lives.
1 John 2:1 If we sin, we have an
advocate in Jesus. He intercedes for us.
People can try to impress
others with their good behavior even without an inward change. It may look
good, but if the motives have not been changed, its based on selfishness. How
can we tell if we are genuinely born again? Lets ask ourselves these
heart-searching questions.