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

Today, let’s look at the renewing nature of the Holy Spirit.

Today’s scripture, Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT) says…
[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…
Today’s scripture made me look for a definition of renew. In my search I found Merriam-Webster offers three good ones…
1: to make like new : restore to freshness, vigor, or perfection
as we renew our strength in sleep
2: to make new spiritually : regenerate
3a: to restore to existence : revive
3b: to make extensive changes in : rebuild

Definitions 1 & 3 highlight a restoration to something. This makes me think, what would God want to restore us to. The Holy Spirit directed me to our beginning, Genesis 1:27 (NIV)…
[27] So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God wants us to return to His unadulterated imagine that He originally created us in.

We know this is God’s desire, because Romans 8:29 (NLT) tells us…
[29] For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Notice, God chose us to become His children, like His Son!

1 John 3:2-3 (NLT) expounds…
[2] Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. [3] And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

Verse three highlights a key element of God’s image that He wants restored. Notice the verse says KEEP pure. That means when God made us in His image, specifically Jesus’, He made us pure.

The Holy Spirit reminded me that 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)
testifies…
[21] For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Jesus was the sinless offering for sin, but He still remained sinless. Therefore, us becoming like Jesus means God wants us to become sinless too.

This is where the Merriam-Webster’s second definition of renew comes in play. Remember it defined renew as, to make new spiritually : regenerate

That’s what Titus 3:4-7 (NIV) explains…
[4] But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, [6] whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, [7] so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

The Holy Spirit emphasized verse five says…
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

This means we’re born again, like Jesus said in John 3:3, and living new like Paul explained in 2 Corinthians 5:17.

But let’s look closer at our rebirth. Jesus explains in John 3:5-6 NLT
[5] Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. [6] Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.

This mean our rebirth comes from the Holy Spirit. As I read Jesus’ words, I saw the picture of parents counting fingers and toes on their newborn. I imagine at our rebirth the Holy Spirit counts the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)…
[22] But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

You see just like fingers and toes are evidence of perfect human qualities, so to are the fruit of the Spirit, evidence of our spiritual Christ-likeness.

But notice, it’s the Holy Spirit that produces our spiritual life, and likeness.

It’s important that we understand God saved us to become like Him!

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NLT)
[15] But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. [16] For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”

Which brings me to a key renewal verse, that is a companion to today’s scripture. Galatians 5:16 (NLT) exhorts…
[16] So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

In both passages I see a key three letter word that is vital to the Holy Spirit’s renewing power. The word is ‘LET’.

• Led
• Exclusively
• Through, and by, the Holy Spirit

That means, we must LET the Holy Spirit lead us and live in accordance with Galatians 5:25 (NLT), which says…
[25] Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Today, LET the Holy Spirit renew you to become God’s child, perfect and pure like His only begotten Son!

Today’s song is…
Create In Me A Clean Heart

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)