Until then...

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Thomas Fuller reminds us, "In fair weather prepare for foul." We prepare for a life with Christ in eternity by living a life close to him today. We are preparing for whatever may come our way. In living close to Christ today, we are ensuring whatever storm or battle comes next, we are prepared to face it with his assistance. The closeness we develop with Jesus today is something we can count on to be our firm foundation into every tomorrow. 

So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:16-17)

Way too often we evaluate others by what we observe on the surface, not really knowing what has been going on inside of their hearts and minds. We 'see' one thing but have no idea what preparation has been going on deep beneath the surface. I have come to realize the outward change we might expect to see in someone isn't always the first thing we will observe, though. The inward has to change, then the outward begins to follow suit. 

The new comes as a result of Christ's work IN us, not so much his work ON us. The moment we realize that God is at work IN an individual, we are able to encourage them to continue the work of 'preparing' for whatever comes next in their lives. Newness has come, but the old is often shed slower than we might like. God is not disappointed by the speed at which we allow the outward change - he is still at work drawing our hearts and minds close to him. 

Allow the work of today to prepare you for tomorrow. Invite the presence of God and the insight of his Word to invade every space of your new life in Christ - making ALL things new by his touch. The outward will eventually follow the inward work - we must be patient with ourselves and others until it does. Remember, the battle we face tomorrow is won by drawing closer to Jesus today. Just sayin!

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