Daily Devotional #1,724

I like apples and I get them pre-packaged in bags at our local Walmart. The other day I got my usual brand and  brought them home and took out one and washed it and took a bite out of it…and it tasted funny…well, not so  good! I looked at the inside of the apple and it was not fresh and was on the way to rotting. I checked out the  rest of the apples and most of them had the same problem. I took them back and they quickly refunded my  money and apologized that they had problems with the recent shipments. But I like apples. Days went by and I  figured that whatever problems with that shipment, after a number of days there must be fresh ones in there by  now. I went back…and I didn’t pick my usual brand but decided to go with one that I had enjoyed some time  ago. I checked the apples for firmness and looked as best I could at the outer color. All seemed well…until the  next day when I actually bit into one. And guess what? Once again…bad apples. Maybe there is something to  one bad apple spoiling the whole bunch! So, I took my bag back to customer service again and there was the  same young lady. She remembered me and was shaking her head as I approached the counter. She said, “I saw  you coming again and I thought…will he ever learn?” I just sighed as she got me my refund and I decided that  I had learned my lesson. I thought about that and went to the Bible to see what it said about needing to learn  things about life. I found in Paul’s letter to the Colossian church that he said that for them, they needed to learn  to get rid of anger, rage, bad behavior, slander, dirty language and lying. He said that we have a new nature, but  we need to learn to know our creator now that we have an eternal relationship with through this Jesus of the  Bible. And then we need to learn to become like him. What was needed for those Colossians centuries ago is  needed by us in every age. We need to learn to live in a way that reflects God’s goodness and kindness and  holiness. We need to learn to know him. And we need to learn to become like him in love and grace and  forgiveness. As we make that journey, we will make mistakes over and over again. And all those around us  here and in heaven will shake their heads and say, “Won’t they ever learn?” You will fail. But don’t you stop. 
Keep striving to learn and to put that learning into practice in this life. You won’t ever be perfect…here. But  we are promised that if we will keep our faith, when we see him, we will finally become like him. And at least  that first round of lessons will indeed be learned! Here’s our Bible verse for today…  
Colossians 3:8-10 NLT But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty  language. (9) Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked  deeds. (10) Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.  
Remember I’m praying for you!  
With love, PJ