Everyday Christian Living: Renew and Remember
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…
Hebrews 12:1b-2a
“…Let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith…
“Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1 - 2).
“Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1 - 3).
With every passing birthday I realize two things. First I realize the importance of renewing my spiritual passion each day. Not a day passes that the enemy doesn’t attempt to discourage me from living out the Christ life or doesn’t attempt to distract me from focusing all my attention on Christ.
The second thing I realize is the importance of remembering. Remembering what? Remembering the days of fresh faith, remembering the days of conquering faith, and remembering the days of God’s deep work in my life.
Now here is the challenge for me. I want these two things in my life everyday. In fact, I need these two things in my life every day if I am going to make each day count for Christ.
Our two words for today are the words renew and remember. To live everyday for Christ, we need to renew ourselves and to remember our Savior.
Renew
A few years ago, I was asked to do a wedding vow renewal service for some precious friends. It was such a special time for this couple as well as their, friends and family members. It was a time of reflection as they thought about the commitment they made years earlier. It was a time of joy as they anticipate the future and it was a time of renewal of their spiritual and marital commitment. When we renew, we reaffirm our commitment. When we renew, we re-establish that priority in our lives and when we renew we make fresh our vow of faithfulness.
That is not only true in marriage, but it is true in our spiritual lives.
“But be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2).
Renewal is not an act of emotions. It may involve or evoke emotions, but it is so much more. According to Romans 12:2, renewing is an act of our mind, our thinking. When we begin each day in a posture of renewal, we are beginning each day thinking about Jesus, thinking on His Word, and thinking about His ways.
Did you know there is a benefit that comes from renewal? According to Romans 12:2, when I renew my mind, I know His will.
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is” (Romans 12:2).
Do you want to know the will of God for your life? Then I encourage you to begin each day by renewing your mind with the Word of God. In fact, there is even a warning in this verse. The warning is to either conform your mind to the things of the world or to have your mind renewed with the things of God.
So I encourage you to begin each day with your mind focused on God’s Word. That is the key to renewal. A pastor friend of mine told me once that he goes to bed with a scripture verse on his mind and it is usually the first thing on his mind when he awakens.
So start practicing renewal today and you will be on the road to living everyday for Christ.
Remember
But not only are we to renew our minds, we are to remember our Lord Jesus. In the book of Hebrews, we are told to “look only at Jesus.” And we are given a reason. That reason is so that we will have endurance. According to Hebrews 12:1-2, the Christian life is full of obstacles, traps, and snares. The enemy uses these to take our focus off of Christ and onto life’s challenges. These traps and snares sometimes come in the form of sin and sometimes come in the form of weights.
Dr. Adrian Rogers used to say that “sin would take us further that we want to go, keep us longer than we want to stay and cost us more than we want to pay.” That is exactly what the Bible means in the book of Hebrews. Sin is a trap, a snare, and an obstacle to cause us to stumble in our daily walk with Christ.
Another trap is what the Bible calls “weights.” Weights are the things that slow us down and often deter us from living the daily life of Christ. Weights can be things such as a strained relationship, a challenging boss, a difficult neighbor, a financial hardship, or family burdens. These things weigh us down. And before long rather than walking in the Spirit, we are standing powerless in our faith. So what is the answer? How can we endure the burdens around us and before us?
We are to remember Jesus. For a moment, think about all that Jesus endured: the beating and scourging, the fake charges and the mock trial, the crucifixion, the suffering, the abandonment by friends and yes, the separation from the Father in the very moment He took on our sin. And yet, Jesus endured, He persevered and He focused on the prize.
Remember Jesus, His life, His work, His purpose, His payment. When the everyday Christian life discourages you, look to Jesus - the One who began your faith and the one who is completing your faith.
Conclusion
We have added two more “R” words to everyday Christian living. I hope you are keeping up with these and practicing these every day.