This past weekend a bunch of us were able to retreat to Rock Mountain for some spiritual input and challenge. Though we had a small group, it was a fantastic weekend filled with fun, food, and fellowship. The camp actually had some snow, which meant we not only got to go tubing, but nubing as well! Nubing = Night Tubing. Not to be confused with Noob Tubing, which is noobs using the rocket launcher to get kills in Call of Duty. Very different things.
Pastorian joined us as our speaker for the weekend, and "Bishop" led us in worship (with some help from Pastorian, Madframe, and Cole Train). The theme was "Impact" with a heavy focus on Romans 12:1-2 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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." Pastorian challenged us to take home one specific phrase: "It is impossible to have a true encounter with God and walk away the same." We cannot see and know God and remain unchanged because an encounter with God is an encounter with the Truth.
As usual, every morning after breakfast we broke away from the group and spent some Time Alone With God (TAWG). Today, I wanted to share some reflections from Sunday morning's TAWG. In it, we were challenged to read through Ephesians 4:17-32, which talks about the Christian casting off the old self and putting on the new self in Jesus. Below is an overview of the characteristics of the "Old Self" with their corresponding characteristics in the "New Self".
Old Self: New Self:
Separated from the life of God Connected to life through Jesus Christ
Hardened Hearts Soft / open heart
Ignorant of God Heard of and taught about God
Lost sensitivity to what is right Follows after God's righteousness
Indulges in whatever feels good Pursues holiness (what IS good)
Continually lusting/greedy for more Satisfied, content, fulfilled
Deceitful desires New mind focused on God's desires
Speaks falsely (liar) Speaks truthfully (honest)
Anger leads to sin Pursues reconciliation (lets go of anger)
Steals (thief) Works with hands and provides for others
Speaks unwholesomely (puts down, curses) Builds others up with words
Grieves the Holy Spirit Honors the Holy Spirit
Bitter (holds on to past hurts) Kind
Raging and angry Compassionate
Brawls (picks fights) Forgiving (just as Christ forgave us)
Slanders others (spreads rumors) ^ ^ Builds others up with words and is honest
Full of malice toward others (wants harm for them) -> Forgiving, compassionate, and kind
After looking over this list, the next challenge is to consider which areas you find yourself particularly struggling. What parts of the "Old Self" are you holding on to? For me, indulgence in what feels good, greed for more (which could also be considered gluttony), and deceitful desires are where I struggle most. So for me, I can work on those areas by actively learning about what God says is pure and right and pursuing those things, finding contentment in what God has already given me, and turning my focus off of what I want toward what God wants. As I do this, I will be putting off the "Old Self" and taking on the "New Self".
What do you struggle with? How can you intentionally cast aside those areas in favor of the "New Self"? These are the questions you should focus on.
Also, if you have any questions about what some of these things look like in our world today (such as deceitful desires), ask in the comments and I will answer. Same goes for if you have questions about how to pursue the characteristics of the "New Self".
God bless.
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