Ephesians 4:20-23 English Standard Version

²⁰ But that is not the way you learned Christ!— ²¹ assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²² to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³ and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

We have been talking about human nature and how it still exists in us after we are reborn. Today let us look to just one aspect of human nature that we might find in “deceitful desires”. This one is associated with self-worth. We had a sense of self-worth in our former life and it is right to discover self-worth in this newness of life but an old lie resides in the nature we have.

“I have to do this.”

Our sense of self-worth in our old life is centered on efforts and achievements. Having failed at that most of us turned to Christ because of how we felt about our former life. Why would we think that our personal efforts in this new life should provide results that differed from the past? This lie tells us that to succeed in kingdom living we need to do something to change ourselves.

Hebrews 12:2 English Standard Version (ESV) looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

It is Jesus Christ who rules and reigns that perfects our faith and it is a life of faith we live. That faith we have put in Christ and He has not relinquished possession of our faith. Our faith is in Him and He abides in us.

Galatians 2:20 English Standard Version (ESV) I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Matthew 19:14 English Standard Version (ESV) but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Speaking to the issues of human nature yesterday and resenting being called a baby, allow the next issue of human nature be seen in how some of us that have been walking with our Lord for a long time might forget how it feels to be that new born.

Newborns have no reference point in this new kingdom where they have been reborn except those that appear before them. Just as a newborn opens his eyes for the first time and looks up at the face of the mother and father that holds them, those first impressions and experiences are created by the parents. We would do well to remember that those who have just been reborn will look to us as their first glimpse into kingdom living.

Jesus tells us not to hinder them. Hinder them might be defined here as bad first impressions. Jesus loves them without judgment or expectation. We should do the same. Some will want to begin the maturing process which is the work of the Holy Spirit. It might happen that way because we have forgotten what it feels like to be a new reborn.

It is our human nature that places more importance on current events and experiences and puts aside old memories that no longer serve us well. The newborn’s memories for the moment only contain memories of a past life. They have not yet developed spiritual eyes and ears. They have them, but just as any newborn, they need to be developed.

The title today says kid gloves, it is an expression which means be gentle and handle with care. First impressions in rebirth matter even more than natural birth because the world has already told them lies about what it takes to live a new life.