The New Me

I suspect that some people think I am an extremist. A Holy Molly or whatever. Don't I ever talk about anything besides God? What's wrong with this guy? Won't he get a life, huh? Is he dying or what?

The fact is: I am increasingly living at odds with this world, though I am still young and certainly not dying. I am not holy but I actually desire to be holy. I used to be able to laugh at course jokes, have watched WWF wrestling week after week, and even viewed R(A) movies and pornography at one point in my life. A wretched soul then. But today, all these things are a big turn-off for me. I am not paying lip service; it's a heartfelt conviction. Whenever I happen to walk past a video shop showing gory images of wrestlers mauling each other, I turn my face away. On the web, if I stumble across suggestive content or course language, I immediately make a U-turn.

One part of me, the old me I used to know, has died. A new me, gradually but powerfully shaped by God, has come to life. It is this new me that makes me cherish my life & the loved ones God has given me, that makes me want to devote more time to God & His cause, that makes me stop climbing the corporate ladder for selfish reasons, and do my utmost for people out there with needs. I may not be able to give much in terms of cash since I no longer enjoy as big a pay packet as I used to, but I find myself giving more in terms of services, talents, and time, and I actually found it a joy doing so.

It all boils down to one thing:

When you live for yourself, anything goes;

When you live for God, everything that isn't right goes.

And I am happy to lose those encumbering things in life that do not help anyone. I am happy to offer my services and time to those who ask, without expecting anything in return. The world teaches us that nothing is free, that you must expect a consideration for something you do. For me, whatever I have been blessed with, I will use the same to bless others, free and no conditions attached.

Acts 20:25 says the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

It's true, and I believe we can all experience this for ourselves, if we choose to live for God rather than for ourselves. Experience real living, today.

May God bless you,
Thomas