Friday, January 5, 2024

Morning Manna by Rufus Parker - 2024 January 5

Come As You Are You Can Change Inside

 

“If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:21-24)

 

Today’s Morsel: A few days ago, as I was driving to church, I noticed a church’s marque which stated, “Come as you are, you can change inside.”

Sad to say, this is how some churches today think. They tell people to just come as you are, and they never tell them nor teach them what they need to do to change. Yes, you can come as you are, but God never intended for you to stay that way. The gospel is supposed to cause people to see themselves for who they are which should cause them to see that they need to change who they are. At the First New Testament Church, when they Holy Ghost was poured out and Peter began to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, scripture says: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:37-42) They saw that they needed to change, and they did. As Jesus told Nicodemus when he came to him by night, “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5) Yes, you can come as you are, but you should not expect to stay that way. You must be born again.

 

Sing: Born-again, there has been a change in me. Born-again, just like Jesus said. Born-again, and all because of Calvary, I’m so glad that I’ve been born-again.

 

Thought For Today: If nothing changes, nothing changes!

No comments:

Post a Comment