February 20

There is an old saying, “If you want something different than you’ve always had, you must do something different than you’ve always done.” The Bible gives that same counsel to those who have given their lives to Christ and desire to be His hand extended to a lost and dying world. The fact is, we will not accomplish much in the behalf of His Kingdom if we continue to wallow in the world.

The admonition to change is clearly stated in Colossians 3:8-10. It says, “Put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Stop lying because you have put off the old man and his deeds and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge after the One who created him.”

This is quite direct. There is no misunderstanding of it. Your old habits and practices are not the traits that are useful in the furtherance of the Lord’s Kingdom purposes. If you persist in your natural proclivities, you may hold on to your salvation but you will not be effective in winning others to faith in Jesus. To advance His salvation, to make Him attractive to others, you must reflect His loveliness.

You must speak as He spoke, act as He acted, walk as He walked, teach as He taught, and love as He loved. When you employ His tactics, you will further His purpose—the salvation of the lost. Let them see Him, not you. When you have exchanged your ways for His ways, the light of His love will shine through you. When He is clearly visible, He is altogether lovely, and His beauty compels those He came to save into His Arc of Salvation.