What the New Life in Christ Looks Like!

1. You give up the old life. “Whoever does not carry their cross cannot follow me” (Luke 14:27). That’s the meaning of the cross: the end of your life. There can be no half measures here. 2. You make discipleship your top priority. Discipleship means you make it your top priority to be involved in what God is doing. It cannot be an extra-curricular activity. It must be the filter through which every other relationship and pursuit passes. “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26). 3. You actually put Jesus’ teaching into practice. One of the most pernicious lies is that you can’t do what Jesus said. The truth is that he expected us to put his teaching into practice and will empower us to do so. “Anyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matthew 7:26-27). “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). Dallas Willard said that nobody reluctantly becomes a disciple of Jesus. Because God wants your will and your desire to be in connection with His will and desire. 4. The characteristic of your life could change into the following…                          *You will be at ease, at rest.                        *Joy will characterize you.                        *You’ll love your life, even though it might contain difficulties, persecution, or worse.    *You’ll love who you are and how God created you.                                                *You’ll be able to love others from a full heart. *Worry will fall away. You’ll find everything you need is taken care of moment-by-moment, day-by-day.                                                *You will experience a power operating in your life that makes it very difficult to have a bad day. Joy and peace will be with you even in the hardest of circumstances.                *Your thoughts and feelings will be transformed.                                                  *You will be confident and hopeful.             *You won’t indulge in thoughts of rejection, despair, failure, hopelessness, because you’ll know better.                                                 *You will become so aware of God’s presence and grace around you that you will hardly remember how to be gloomy or negative.                                                   *You’ll find that God works through your life to bring healing, joy, peace, and goodness to others.                                                         *You will be filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.