The words of a prayerful desire when it becomes a goal to be changed. We should be consumed to be different than the unsaved sinner of the old person. The new change to be like Christ and to put Him on in our being - every part, to be like Christ.

Perhaps, a difficult place to start from - Listen! But it's the only place where our beginning of faith and obedience can start when God has spoken. He has the instruction for happiness here and the hereafter. The only plan begins and ends with what HE says. Listen!

The very purpose of the apostle Paul's ministry was to bring the message that someone died for you and for me. Our sin was brought to the cross of crucifixion to be put to death so our spirit could be raised to life. If we do not follow Christ's example and put Him in our life, our spirit resides in eternal death separated from God.

Troubling times are upon us. Chaos is somewhat descriptive of what we are witnessing. Sometimes we feel like we are in the big middle of every bad circumstance. And if you don't feel like this now, you have been there before or you can expect it will come later. Where do you turn? What do you do? Is there a way out? God has the answers. Are we listening?

This is a monumental task we must undertake, as given by God, because man, by his very nature, is resistant to change, repentance, and yielding one's life to faith. It would seem that salvation and a hope of eternal bliss would come with its own appeal, but somehow, we are very shortsighted in our planning.

An old story, but precious and richly told, recounting memories that worked to save our soul. There is not a story told that can match the love our Savior of redemption He holds, the finest story ever told.

The Apostle Paul made clear where the extent of our faith must be beyond only the hope of Christ in our life, but must be beyond this life that Christ provides a salvation where we are resurrected from a life of sin and to put to death that life, becoming dead to sin, and raised to life eternal with Christ and the Father.

Our Savior lived His whole life destined to die for our sins. Although, the path from Gethsemane through Jerusalem to the hill of Golgotha was fraught with great trepidation, He could not even be there except the 33 years of His life to that point was enshrined with the purity that a sacrifice for our sin was required.

Until one learns obedience to the Father and chooses to live in repentance in grace from the Father, there is no birth in the water and Spirit of God. We can be reborn and given a new life in the Spirit of God where salvation resides through His Son.

That wonderful cross deserves our consideration and meditation in depth, to know its meaning and its eternal providence. Only then will we see the price paid for our unworthiness, malice, and sin, and now know, we serve a risen Savior.