How God reshapes our life in Christ…
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In my last journal entry I shared a devotional study entitled, ‘The Footsteps of Messiah.’ I also wanted to offer a study that shows how the Lord helps us make our transformation from being a newbie believer into a mature believer.
With that in mind here is a short devotional study on…
How God Reshapes Our Life in Christ
By Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin
The soul speaks of that which makes us who we are as a person. It is our individuality. All sinners are alike with regard to their soul. This is why Paul said,
“Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.” Eph2:3
The apostle is saying that it doesn’t matter if we are of a Jewish or a Gentile background. We all had souls of sinners.
David understood this issue. He said,
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” Psa51:5
David was speaking of his natural life. Paul takes it further;
“Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?” Rom7:25
Both David and Paul knew the answer. David looked ahead and saw the resurrection of Christ. This is why he said,
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; who shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?” Psa27:1
David had seen the beauty of the Lord. He saw Jesus of the cross. He saw Jesus of resurrected glory. It was the same with Isaiah. John said that Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus.
What of the Christian soul? When a person is born again a number of things happens. The Christian is given a Christ like nature. But a problem remains. It is not our soul that is born again. It is that part of us that is called ’spirit.’ The Christian becomes a spiritual being. Yet his or her personal life (soul) has to be redeveloped with spiritual values.
Hebrews 4:12, explains it this way;
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
The new birth is a circumcision where the heart and soul once again have distinct functions.
Just because a person is born again does not mean this is the end of the story. Our personal life has been shaped by the world. It must now be reshaped by the Holy Spirit. Paul spoke of this in saying,
“My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you.” Gal4:19
When a new believer first enters the realm of salvation, there is a burst of spiritual life. There is joy! There is peace! There is wonderment! Grace flows like a river. Then somewhere along the way this feeling of joy starts to wane. It could be that a religious mind set is coming into place. It may be time to break the shackles.
In the Scriptures, the term ‘truth’ does not refer simply to a doctrine. The Greek term is used in the new covenant for our experiencing the realities of Christ. It is so easy for a Christian’s life to get bogged down in letterism. Paul said the letter kills whereas the Spirit gives life.
How can Paul say such a thing? We need all the laws we can get! Not really. Paul understood the new covenant as well as it can be understood. He knew that every person who is truly born again is under the life supervision of the Holy Spirit.
It is the Spirit of God who births us, seals us, tutors us, educates us, places us where we need to be, 
refreshes us, turns our trials into victories, helps us escape bad teachings, keeps the glory of Jesus before us, and many such things. Our final presentation in heaven is a thing of the Spirit.
In the new covenant this all centers on sonship. Paul said,
“Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” Gal4:6
Our relationship with the Father is not that of a servant. We are sons and daughters of the living God. Angels know the Divine seal upon God’s children. And so in the meantime, our inward life is continually being reshaped by the Spirit of God.
This work of the Holy Spirit is so powerful that He can and does take every situation of our life, and turn it into part of our reshaping in Christ. This is why the apostle said,
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Paul explains God’s purpose as our final glorification together with Christ. In another place the apostle writes,
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image (inward spiritual likeness) from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2Co3:18
The glory is the glory of Jesus. But where do we see His glory? Paul’s point is that the new covenant believer can now look at the sacred writings, and the glory of Jesus will reflect itself upon their inward life.
Out of this we learn to say,
“O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me. Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me.” Psa131
Can you let your soul become relaxed in the knowledge that Jesus is going to see you through? Can you 
let go of bitterness? Can you be quiet in His rest? Will you let the peace of the Lord rule in your heart?
Just something to think about.
Much love coming your way,
Buddy
