“Livin’ Large is experiencing the new life we have in Christ. It is living the Christian life in the power of the Holy Spirit and it is practicing (Ephesians 4-6) our position (Ephesians 1-3).”
Ephesians 4:20-24
20But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Livin’ Large is living differently from the world. Living differently means that our lives are now defined by Christ. He is our example, He is our focus, He is our mentor and it is His life in us that gives us new life. Paul describes the way of Christ with three action words: put off, put on and be renewed. Put off and put on are in a verb tense that implies once and for all singular action. The process of being renewed is in the present tense, implying ongoing and continual action. These terms encompass the call of Christ in the gospel and the way of Christ in discipleship. Believers are people who have put off their old life, put on the new life of Christ and who are continually being renewed in the spirit of their minds. Living differently in Christ means we have put on the new self who is created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. The new self is continually being renewed as we engage our minds with the truth of God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit. If you are a believer in Christ, you have put off the old self and you have put on the new self. Livin’ Large means that you live like the new person you are and you sustain that life by continually being renewed with the truth of the gospel.
Take a moment to thank God for your salvation. Thank Him that you are forgiven, declared righteous, made a new creation, and indwelt with the Holy Spirit and on your way to Heaven. Acknowledge to God that you have put off the old self and that you have put on the new self. Commit yourself to the ongoing process of renewal. Cultivate the daily habits of spending time in God’s Word, prayer and surrender to the Holy Spirit that will keep you being renewed in the spirit of your mind. Livin’ Large is living differently!