“I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sister, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2).

Just be yourself.

Ever hear that before?

Please, don’t. For your sake and for the sake of everyone around you.

This is terrible advice for Christians. Here’s why. At my best, I am selfish. Even at my best, I am still a sinner. And that’s at my absolute best!!!

So, then, what is the alternative?

Be something better. In fact, be the version of you that Jesus died to create. Be the you that the Holy Spirit is making you. Be the you that Jesus died for and rose again from the dead for. Be the you that God will use to be a blessing to everyone around you. That you, that me, now that’s worth becoming!

Please. Don’t be yourself. Be someone better. Be the you that Jesus died to create.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Christians aren’t perfect. Christians are forgiven.

There is a huge difference.

Even after accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, every one of us continues to struggle with sin. In our corporate confession of sins I remind our congregation that we are not merely sinners, but that we are repeat sinners!

The devil will use this to make us feel shame.

The Holy Spirit uses this to make us more like Christ. Of course we are repeat sinners, but God’s grace and forgiveness is greater than our sins. That we struggle with sin is a good thing. That we struggle with sin is a sign that the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives. It’s when we stop struggling with the sin in our life that we are in trouble.

The reason why we have total confidence in our salvation is not because of our deeds and misdeeds. The reason why we have total confidence in our salvation is because of all that God has done in his Son, Jesus Christ.

Charles Spurgeon writes, “You stand before God as if you were Christ, because Christ stood before God as if he were you.”

Christ bore our sins in his body and paid the debt of sin by dying on the cross and descending into hell on our behalf.

But he rose again! He rose again and because of Christ, we are able to stand before God with confidence that our sins have been forgiven. Because of what God has done in his Son Jesus Christ, when God sees us, he cannot see us apart from seeing us through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

That is the reason why repeat sinners are forgiven.

Amen! Amen! Amen! Thank you Jesus!!!

“We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us – and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help.

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; every who loves is born of God and knows God.” (1 John 3:16-17, 4:7)

I am thankful that my family is healthy and well. I am thankful that most in our church are doing well. And even those who are not well physically know that God loves them. For that I am truly thankful.

But there are many in our country who are not doing well. They are going through all the uncertainties of 2020 without the anchor of God’s grace and peace. I don’t even want to imagine what it’s like to go through life today without knowing that God is sovereign, God is good, God is loving, that God is in control of eternity. But there are more of us who do not know our God than those who do.

Because there are so many who do not know the peace and life in Jesus Christ, God gave to this world the church, his body. The church is God’s gift to a hurting world. Because Jesus dwells in every believer, everywhere believers are Jesus is present!

In a world divided by political allegiances, racial and income inequalities, and so much uncertainty, be Christ’s light. Let Christ shine through you. When we keep ourselves aware of the presence of Jesus, the Holy Spirit will guide us to be a blessing to the people around us.

Be a blessing today. Bless someone’s life today. Our world desperately needs Jesus.

Be the reason someone knows God is good.