Quote from Forum Archives on October 16, 2002, 11:03 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

A big part of the Christian life is about reshaping our character
and our mind. By nature, we are incredibly selfish and self
centered. Without a new spirit within us, we cannot possibly be
all that God intends for us to be as His cherished and deeply
loved people, but with the power of the Holy Spirit, which was
secured for us by our Lord Jesus Christ, all things are possible,
even a completely new and renewed attitude and actions that
match.

Dear Lord,

Thank you for a new nature, one that serves You instead of
myself. Please cultivate and renew a right spirit within me each
day. Amen.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

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N E I L A N D E R S O N D A I L Y D E V O T I O N A L
from Freedom in Christ Ministries

October 16, 2002

THE PRIMARY LABORATORY

Wives, be subject to your husbands . . . Husbands, love your
wives . . . Fathers, do not exasperate your children (Colossians
3:18-21).

God works in our lives primarily through committed
relationships. Your family is the primary laboratory for your
character development. This is precisely the order of Scripture:
Establish your identity in Christ, then focus on living out who
you are at home. Notice the order in Colossians 3:10-25;

* God's great goal for His children is that we conform to His
image: "Put on the new self" (verse 10). Our identity is no
longer in racial, religious, cultural or social ties: "There
is no distinction . . . but Christ is all and in all" (verse
11).

* Character is the focus of development once identity is
established: "Put on a heart of compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience" (verse 12).

* Character is developed in the context of relational living:
"Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other" (verse
13).

* Love is the highest level of character development: "Beyond
all these things put on love" (verse 14).

* The means by which all this is accomplished is Christ in you:
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts . . . Let the
word of Christ richly dwell within you" (verses 15, 16).

* The primary setting for character development is the home:
"Wives, be subject to your husbands . . . Husbands, love your
wives . . . Children, be obedient to your parents . . .
Fathers, do not exasperate your children" (verses 18-21).

As a parent, you are not just shaping your child's behavior, you
are developing his character. Training a child means discipling
him to be Christlike. Don't be a phony at home; your spouse and
children will see right through it. You can't model perfection,
but you can model growth.

Lord, help me be the spouse and parent You want me to be by
remaining committed to be a growing child of God.

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--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

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