A NEW CREATURE 4

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Growing into spiritual maturity as a new creature in Christ is not a simple task.  Knowing how to conform to His will can sometimes be unclear to us.  It is as Paul said we are looking into a "glass darkly".  We can see only a shadow of what is really there.

We have a mirror that is perfectly clear and it works two ways.  We have the Word of God, the Bible.  It not only shows us Jesus and His life and His word that we should conform to, but it also shows us the areas in our life we need to work on.

Many people fail to mature as a new creature in Christ because they fail to ever learn what God wants them to become.  He wants you to become more like Christ.  Conform to that image and you will begin to find your potential as a new creature.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

A NEW CREATURE 3

IN HIS IMAGE

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Have you ever seen a children as they follow their parents and try to do everything just like they do.  We sort of smile and think in the back of our heads that they will outgrow that soon enough.

Sadly we are right because as a person grows up they begin to reason for themselves and make their own choices which sometimes are vastly different from their parents.  Sometimes the results are an improvement and sometimes not.

In our spiritual life we should strive to be like our Heavenly Father. Unlike in our carnal life we where we grow apart and start to become our own person, we should strive to be more and more like  Christ, as we mature.  The people at the Temple Beautiful took note that Peter and John, "..had been with Jesus."  As we grow and mature in our lives as a new Creation we should strive to be more like Christ.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

A NEW CREATURE 2

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

IN HIS IMAGE

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

We sometimes don't like to think of our self as creatures but that is what we are.  We were created by God.  We did not evolve, we did not just happen but we were created by God in His image.

Some may ask if we are created in the image of God, why don't we resemble Him more?  We don't resemble God in our natural state because we have been marred by sin.  That is why we need Jesus.  He comes into our life and we receive the Holy Spirit and He then begins to transform us.  He transforms us so that we become more like Christ.

Are you allowing God to transform your life into someone who more resembles His image.  After all, if you are saved, you are now a new creature.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

A NEW CREATURE 1

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Years ago I saw an old science fiction movie entitled "Invasion Of The Body Snatchers".  Some type of seeds or pods were dropped from out of space and they would take over the body of humans.  Their entire personality would change and they would be devoid of emotion and they were out to take over the world.  I knew it was just a movie but I still looked under my bed every night before I went to bed.

Actually when we get saved we should have a complete change.  Jesus comes into our lives and we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit and the more we submit and yield to Him the more like Jesus we become.

Maybe we should be more willing to let God have His way with us and change us into the New Creature that He would have us to be.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

CHOOSING RIGHT FROM WRONG 4

WILL IT CAUSE OTHERS TO STUMBLE?

(Rom 14:13)  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

If we fail to choose right from wrong it could become a stumbling block for weaker Christians. We must always remember that not only are the lost people watching us but weaker Christians are watching us and we could cause them to stumble if we choose the wrong paths and make the wrong decisions.  We have an obligation to set a good example to both the weaker Christians and to the those who are unsaved.  If we are not setting the proper example we can not expect them to get closer to the Lord by following us.

WILL IT GLORIFY GOD?

(1 Cor 10:31)  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

In closing the easiest way to settle whether you are making the right or wrong choice is to ask yourself this question, "Will what I choose to do glorify God."  If the answer is yes then you are probably making the right choice.  If the answer is no, then you had better re-think your choice.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions,

comments or even suggestions for further

devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area

and would like for our church to visit them

please let us know.  Our prayers are that this

devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring

people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I

do appreciate you taking the time to read these

devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

CHOOSING RIGHT FROM WRONG 3

WILL IT KEEP ME FROM GROWING SPIRITUALLY?

(2 Pet 3:17-18)  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. {18} But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Sin will stunt our spiritual growth. If we harbor sin in our life and refuse to let it go (or fail to wrestle ourselves free from it) our spiritual growth will be hindered.  Many fail to reach spiritual maturity and remain babes in Christ simply because they are in bondage to some sin that they fail to rid themselves of.

This is not uncommon and explains why we have so many who fail to grow in grace.  When we do grow in grace we will experience spiritual fruitfulness and will see results of our witnessing and soul winning.

Even when we are guilty of doctrinal error it will stunt our spiritual growth.  We must study the scriptures and rightly divide the truth from God's word.  It will bring us security, certainty, and most of all clarity.

Sometimes we fail to mature and we don't understand why.  This is why it is important for us to examine ourselves, our beliefs, our actions and our walk with Jesus.

Get rid of the things in your life that hinder your spiritual growth.  It is the right decision to make.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.

CHOOSING RIGHT FROM WRONG 2

IS THERE A POSSIBILITY IT WILL ENSLAVE ME?

(1 Cor 6:12)  All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

We are well aware that many are enslaved by certain sins that either hinder them or keep them completely from being vessels that honor God and are used by Him.  It is not hard to know that many are enslaved by alcohol, drugs, promiscuity, greed and such as that.  Most people would not even argue that these things are a hindrance to their service.

What we fail to notice many times that people can be just as enslaved to pride, gossip, bitterness, anger and even ambition to the point that they never become vessels of honor for God.

If something causes us to focus more on ourselves and our desires than on serving and honoring God we should do our best to bring that under subjection to Him and to His will.

Choosing right from wrong is not always easy but it is what we should do.

Please feel free to contact me by email at

shilohkosciusko@gmail.com with questions, comments or even suggestions for further devotional studies.

If you know of someone new to the Kosciusko area and would like for our church to visit them please let us know.  Our prayers are that this devotional ministry will be an outreach to bring people into a closer relationship with Jesus.  I do appreciate you taking the time to read these devotionals and please keep us in your prayers.