Are you walking in the Light?

Wow!

Tonight at Bible study we had what is usually known as a brain explosion/meltdown (or as I will medically label them "cerebrolysis"). This session our Colleges group are tackling the book of 1 John which I must admit is a book I often avoid reading in depth. My reluctance to read this letter was justified, not only was it a hard book to read but also it has some tough truths to accept. John says that he writes his letter so that we "will not sin"(2:1)... and that if we continue to walk in the darkness we cannot claim to really have fellowship with God (1:6)... In 2:4 John says:

Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected (ESV)

This led to an interesting discussion about who it IS who DOES keep God's word... is it referring to Jesus, the true worshipper who offers an obedient sacrifice? Or is it referring to the ideal that we as Christians should be conforming to? Either way John makes it quite clear that we should walk the same way that Jesus our Saviour walked (2:6) and this is a challenge we need to heed.
Daily we are bombarded with advertising, peers and family telling us what to do and which way to go and how to do things. But Jesus calls us to walk in his steps... to walk the narrow path of sacrificial love... living a life in the light is not a nice stroll down the sunlit highway, but a tough battle in a world of darkness.

I am only too aware of my own failings in this area. Daily, I fail to love my brothers and sisters around me. However, I have an advocate, a lawyer, pleading my case... Jesus Christ who is the propitation* for my sins! That great news of the gospel that I first came to know so many years ago is still the same simple yet profound message that changes me today.

Heavenly Father, may we love as you loved us... may we walk in the light as you are in the light and walk the same way that our Lord and Saviour Jesus walked. Thankyou so much for sending him to take the punishment we deserve.

God bless!
Jim

Neo?-Neonoia

Hi all,

Welcome to my first blog entry. Many of you maybe wondering: why the title "Neonoia"? Well basically it's a kind of hybrid new Greek word I made to represent the purpose of the blog. "Neo" is the Greek word for "new" (not for a Matricial Saviour figure) and "noia" refers to the "mind" (as in "paranoia"). Hence this blog will attempt to explore/document the "new mind" of James Arthur Mittelstadt. As a Christian I have been saved from my "old mind" which was set on destruction and the things of this world. Now I have God's Spirit living in me who changes me to be more like my Lord, Jesus Christ. I can't say it any better than Paul the apostle does when he says in Romans 12:1-2:

"I appeal to you therefore, brother, 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 renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

There is no point in me having a new mind unless it is for the purpose of glorifying God and being a living sacrifice (more on worship and sacrifice in future blogs!) I pray that God will be honoured and glorified in my life as I seek and strive to work out my salvation with fear and trembling with the help of God's Spirit. Thanks be to Jesus for saving me and rescuing me from my sin!
God bless you all,
Jimbo