Thoughts for Life: WALKING ANEW

Patricia Raybon- Applause rang out as a school's top students received certificates of excellence for academic achievement. But the program wasn't over. The next award celebrated students who weren't the school's 'best,' but instead were most improved.

They'd worked hard to raise a failing grade, correct disruptive behavior, or commit to better attendance. Their parents beamed and applauded, acknowledging their children's turn to a hight path—seeing not their former shortcomings but their walk in a new way.

The heart-lifting scene offers a small picture of how our heavenly Father sees us—not in our old life but now, in Christ, as His children. "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God," wrote John (John 1:12).

What a loving perspective! So Paul reminded new believers that once "you were dead in your transgressions and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). But in fact, "we are God's handiword, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (v. 10).

In this way, Peter wrote, we are "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may decare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light," and we are now "the people of God" (Peter 2:9-10) Through God's eyes, our old path has no claim on us.

Let's see ourselves as God does—and walk anew.

Let's pray-

Father, when top students receive certificates of exellence for academic achievements, awards are given. Other awards for most improved students are given to some too. These are those who worked hard to raise their grades, correct disruptive behavior or committed to better attendance.

No doubt their parents are grateful and proud of them, acknowledging their children's efforts to do their best, and now walk in a better way. This is a heart-lifting scene that offers a small picture of how You see us—not in our old sinful ways, but now in Christ, as Your children.

It's a loving perspective, Father, that we who were dead in transgressions and sins, are called out of darkness and into Christ's wonderful light, and have become Your people. Through Your eyes, our old sinful path has no claim on us.

For this we praise and honor You and the work Christ has, and is doing in us! Amen.

# 54 Quote- on Jesus in Gethsemane-

"Now we come to the most remarkable instance of all. In Gethsemane, we see that our Lord, according to His constant habit, consulted and arranged with the Father the work He had to do on earth. First, He pleaded with Him in agony and bloody sweat to let the cup pass from Him; when He understaood that this could not be, He prayed for strength to drink it, and He surrendered Himself with the words, Not my will, but thine, be done (Matthew 22:42). Jesus was able to meet the enemy full of courage, and in the power of God He gave Himself over to the death of the cross. He had prayed."

(Andrew Murray in The PRAYER LIFE, Presevering in Prayer, pg 45).

1296-1300 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-

1296- Jer. 49:7c "Is their wisdom vanished?"

1297- Ps. 51:9 "Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my inquities."

1298- Ps. 98:2a "The LORD hath made known his salvation."

1299- Jer. 37:9a "Thus saith the LORD; Decieve not yourselves."

1300- Ps. 109:31a "He shall stand at the right hand of the poor (in spirit).

#54 Hymn- O I Want to See HIm

Arthor, R.H. Cornelius, known as Rufus Cornelius by his friends, was born in Blount Co., AL., January 24, 1872. He was educated in the public schools of Oneonta, the county seat. He began teaching in the public schools at an early age and at one time was associate Principle of the Oneonta High School. It was while teaching in the high school that he became interested in church music and began to study with some of the best teachers of the time.

Some encouraging words-

"God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. Do we realize that as Christians we have within us the selfsame Holy Spirit that was in the Lord Jesus when he was here on earth? The Spirit that enabled him will enable us." (p.172, Corrie Ten Boom in her book, Each New Day, 365 Reflections to Strengthen Your Faith)

Upcoming posts:

10/5- HOW DO YOU LOVE GOD?- Dave Butts

12th- SEARCH ME O GOD- Lois J. Stucky

19th- WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE- Bill Crowder