Good Behavior? Bad Behavior?

Judy looked forward to a quiet night.  Enroute to a family reunion, she dreaded the upcoming barrage of questions she faced. “What happened to you and Jake?”  “I wish you would work it out, dear.”  Dare she blurt out, “He’s a creep and routinely bereats me?”

After checking into her motel room, she headed for the front desk. “Where’s the closest place I can get dinner?” she asked.  After receiving directions, she checked her watch.  It was early, but she decided to go ahead and pick up dinner so she could get back to her room before dark.

“This is going to be a horrible night!” the woman taking her order bemoaned.”  Judy suddenly forgot about the reunion and felt for the woman, wondering what problems she had when the customer in line behind her, asked, “What did you order?”  Turning, Judy faced a nice-looking, well dressed man.  He repeated the question, “What did you get?”

Judy wanted to blurt out, “What do you care?” but instead politely answered, “a salad”.  Sam seemed to forget he was supposed to be placing an order.  “You don’t really want to take your salad to go.  Can I buy you a beer?” 

Suddenly Judy was uncomfortable. “No, thank you.”  She started to explain she didn’t like beer, was married, and for him to buzz off, but decided the short answer might help him better get the hint.

Sam continued with unabashedly flirtatious remarks while Judy noted his wedding ring and gold igtheus bracelet. Certainly he would have seen her ring which she wore even though she and Jake were separated.

The above scenarios play out thousands of times and begs two questions to be answered.  First, why do we behave badly; if not in the above ways, in our own way?  The second is, can we do anything about it? 

The first question is easy to answer.  We behave badly because we have a sin nature.  It’s described in the Bible as “carnal” and is the opposite of righteous.  It’s the child in us that wants what we see, wants it now, and doesn’t care about the effect it has on others or the harm it brings.

The second question is harder to answer, but God does have an answer.  Yes, we can do something about our bad behavior.  Consider the following and which is an important step for you to take at this time in your life.

*Change begins in the heart.  

Deuteronomy 10:16 commands us:  “circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no more.”  At physical birth, circumcision is a procedure to remove the foreskin.  In spiritual terms, it is symbolic of removing the “fleshly” nature; that which is set against God.  It’s “removed” so a person can live by God’s Spirit.  Spiritual circumcision takes place at our spiritual birth when we confess, “Jesus is Lord,” and we repent of our sins to follow Christ. It’s done by Spirit of God. Romans 2:29, Col 2:11. 

*Change requires we set our mind on God’s ways, rather than give in to our fleshly tendencies.

Having been “circumcised of the flesh,” we’re to live according to God’s nature and ways. This is where unbelievers fall.  We fail to take to heart God’s command that we no longer live according to our flesh, but rather according to the Spirit. Consider Paul’s warning:  “Those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,” Romans 8:5-6.
Colossians 3:2 continues, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things of earth.”  1 Peter 2:11-12a echoes, “abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.  Keep your behavior excellent…”

Bad behavior?  Good behavior?  Do you have a ring, a cross, or an igtheus hanging around your neck or on your finger?  Do you claim to be a Christian?  If so, check your heart.  Have you truly repented of your sin to follow Christ and His ways?  If you have, check your mind.  Are you setting your mind on God’s ways of thinking and living? 

Yes, we can do something about our behavior.  It starts with our heart and continues in our minds.

Father, thank You for the insight You give us about our behavior.  Thank You for circumcising our hearts so that we can live by Your Spirit.  Train us to set our minds on you and live by Your Spirit.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect,” Romans 12:2