Day 281: A Difference in My Life

Today’s Scripture: Colossians 3:1-17

Central Thought: The difference Christ makes in our lives should be expressed in how we live.

My family recently remodeled our home. A friend stopped by one day when I was getting ready to put trim up. ‘Want to borrow my nail gun?” he asked. What a difference that nail gun made! Putting up trim had never been easier. Even though my miter cuts still needed help, my fingers were not sore from errant hammer blows, and the trim had no dents from misdirected blows. I don’t think I will undertake any future home improvement projects without a nail gun.

When Christ enters a person’s heart and life, He makes a huge difference in that person’s life. Paul spoke about this difference in Colossians 3 and pointed out some of the ways that difference is demonstrated in the life of a believer. For one thing, the way Christians think is to change; we are to become heavenly or spiritually minded (verses 1-4). Another change Christ desires to make in us is how we behave. Old sinful habits are to be ‘put off” and new godly habits are to be ‘put on.”

Notice, though, that at the core of these behavioral changes is a change in a believer’s very nature, ‘which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (verse 10). The peace of Christ rules in our hearts and His Word dwells in us richly (verses 15, 16). Even our motivation changes, for in everything we do and say we want Jesus’ name to be glorified and God to be praised (verse 17). Christ makes a difference in our lives that needs to be expressed in how we live.

Devotional Prayer: God, I want the way I live to reflect what a difference You make in my life.

Today’s Bible Reading: Jeremiah 8:8-9:26; Colossians 3:1-17; Psalm 78:32-55; Proverbs 24:27