Read Renewing Your Mind (Victory Series Book #4): Become More Like Christ for Free Online

one he loves” (verse 6). If we as imperfect parents are aware of the need to discipline our children, how much more aware is God of our need for discipline? We can endure hardship as discipline if we know there is a purpose behind it. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (verse 11).
    Those who prosper in life know that endurance is the key to success. It is said that success is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration. Those who earn graduate degrees are usually no more intelligent than those who quit before they finish their program; they graduated because they endured the process. No pain, no gain—this is true not just of the athlete but also for those who have overcome the odds to be all that Christ created them to be.
    You will never fulfill your purpose in life if you choose the path of least resistance or quit before you finish the race. Too many Christians encounter a little opposition and drop out, saying, “It must not be God’s will.” On the contrary, it is God’s will that you persevere. “You need to persevereso that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:36).
    What three responses can we expect from others when confronted with the light of Christ?
        
    According to the writer of Hebrews, what opposition will we face in life?
        
    What are three ways we can persevere when faced with difficulties?
      
    In what ways have you been tempted to “drop out” when things get too hard and not follow the course you know God has set for you?
      
    How have you benefited from persevering through challenges?
        

    “You must therefore endure rough times as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” . . . Observe the kings on earth, how great an honor it is esteemed to serve under them. If therefore the soldier of the king ought to endure hardness, not to endure hardness is not the part of a soldier.
    John Chrysostom (AD 347–407)
    Renouncing
    When making a public profession of faith, members of the Early Church would stand, face the west, and say, “I renounce you, Satan, and all your works, and all your ways.” This declaration is still practiced by many expressions of Christianity throughout the world. They began the repentance process by renouncing every counterfeit religious experience they had, every false vow or pledge they made, and every false teacher or doctrine in which they believed. They would then face the east and make a public declaration to follow Christ and believe the truth.
    It was understood in the Old Testament that “whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). Paul also encouraged the Church to renounce secret and shameful ways and choose the truth (see 2 Corinthians 4:1–2). Renunciation involves giving up a claim or right. When we renounce something, we are making a definite decision to let go of any past unrighteous commitments, pledges, vows, pacts, and beliefs that are not Christian.We have not truly repented (changed our mind) if we make a decision for Christ and continue to hold on to the past and believe what we have always believed. That would make salvation an experience of addition rather than transformation. To decisively let go of the past is the first step in repentance.
    New believers can easily lose heart if they simply add a little Christianity to their existing world experience. The finished work of Christ atoned for our sins and provided new life in Christ. However, the moment we were born again, we had not fully repented, nor were our minds instantly renewed. We needed the Holy Spirit within us to lead us to the truth that would set us free. Only then could we fully repent and be transformed by the renewing of our minds. As new believers, we can repent because it is God who grants