Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s condider what we should do with what we’ve learned.

Today’s scripture, Ephesians 4:20-24 (NLT), instructs…
[20] But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. [21] Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, [22] throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. [23] Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. [24] Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Consider…
One of the main goals of school is to prepare you to do what’s required for success. That’s why Joshua 1:8 (NLT) encourages us to…
[8] Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Part of school’s preparation is equipping us with the knowledge and wisdom we need. That’s why God gave us His textbook to keep and reference daily. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT) explains…
[16] All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. [17] God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

In today’s text we read, that we should act on what we’ve heard about Jesus and learned from Him. Said another way, we need to follow Christ’s example of living. Notice that in order to do that we must be led by the Spirit, just like He was. Today’s text says it this way…
Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Jesus was led by the Spirit while He walked this earth, and that’s what God wants us to do as well. That’s why the Apostle Paul exhorts us in Galatians 5:16 (NLT) to let the Spirit lead us. He wrote…
[16] So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Speaking of the Apostle Paul, he gives us another commencement speech, in addition to today’s, in Philippians 4:8-9 (NLT)…
[8] And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. [9] Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

While Paul’s words could be used to inspire discipling of one another, I am led to encourage you to read them as words to us from our big brother Jesus.

You see, Jesus came to earth and passed every test and wants to help us pass ours. Hebrews 2:18 (NLT) says…
[18] Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

Moreover, Jesus is the answer key to being right with God. Galatians 2:16 (NLT) explains…
[16] Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”

That’s why Hebrews 12:2a (ERV)
tells us that…
[2] We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete.

So the answer to what’s next when school is over, is to apply what we have learned from Jesus. And to practice what He showed us. In fact Jesus instructs us in John 15:10-12 (NLT)…
[10] When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. [11] I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! [12] This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

So I encourage you, after each lesson you learn from God’s School of Transforming Hearts, to apply what you’ve heard from Jesus and practice what you have seen Him do. And remember you’re not alone, because God has given you the interventionist, a.k.a. the Holy Spirit, to make sure you fully understand and get it right.

What’s next? Be more like Jesus.

Today’s Song is…
More Like Jesus

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)