Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:24
In addition to the smell of freshly turned dirt and purple petunias, there's another attribute of spring that I highly look forward to every year. I look forward to boxing up my fall and winter clothes and replacing them with the spring and summer clothes that have been patiently waiting in the attic to be put back into circulation. Little did I know that this particular practice was a foreign concept to men folk, but I learned that very quickly after getting married!
There's something about pulling out clothes that have been in hiding for six months that makes me excited! Although I have a particular fondness for the warmer months, I even find myself looking forward to the fall time whenever I get to participate in this ritual all over again, but in reverse.
It's almost as if the boxing up of the previous seasons clothes allows me to mentally step away from the things of the past and open up a new box to what the future holds.
It's a fresh start.
It's a clean canvas.
You can compare this new beginning to the time that you received new life in Christ. It was refreshing. It was an undeserved gift. It was the greatest blessing that you and I could ever receive.
Paul reminds the believers at Ephesus that accepting Christ might have been easy, but following after Him and His righteousness is going to be a little more difficult. He tells them that to fully function as Christ followers, they have to leave behind the old self and take on a new identity.
Do you see what Paul is saying? He's telling us that when we become a Christian, God doesn't just hand us a new attitude and lifestyle at the time of our conversion. We have to make the choice to "put it on." Remember, accepting Christ doesn't take any work on our parts, but living for Christ does.
It's not in our nature to be like Christ. I am naturally a sinful person and I have to make an intentional choice to call myself out on the sin in my life and walk away from it. Paul tells the Ephesians (and us) that there are things that should be put aside now that they are following after Christ. Those things are (4:25-32):
I hope you'll take some time to reflect on the ways of your old self that you haven't quite laid down . . . or perhaps you have, only to pick them back up again. Perhaps you and I are alike and you feel like you are doing well in one area of your life, only to be confronted head on with another area that needs attention.
Whether you're a new believer or if you've been a Christian for fifty years, we all need to stop and examine whether or not our lives represent a new creation or whether we look just like our old selves.
So, if you do what I do and take the time and energy to box up one season's clothes and replace them with the new season's wardrobe, then also take the time to pack up those clothes of unrighteousness that have made their way into your life and ask God to help you not pull them back out again.
In addition to the smell of freshly turned dirt and purple petunias, there's another attribute of spring that I highly look forward to every year. I look forward to boxing up my fall and winter clothes and replacing them with the spring and summer clothes that have been patiently waiting in the attic to be put back into circulation. Little did I know that this particular practice was a foreign concept to men folk, but I learned that very quickly after getting married!
There's something about pulling out clothes that have been in hiding for six months that makes me excited! Although I have a particular fondness for the warmer months, I even find myself looking forward to the fall time whenever I get to participate in this ritual all over again, but in reverse.
It's almost as if the boxing up of the previous seasons clothes allows me to mentally step away from the things of the past and open up a new box to what the future holds.
It's a fresh start.
It's a clean canvas.
You can compare this new beginning to the time that you received new life in Christ. It was refreshing. It was an undeserved gift. It was the greatest blessing that you and I could ever receive.
Paul reminds the believers at Ephesus that accepting Christ might have been easy, but following after Him and His righteousness is going to be a little more difficult. He tells them that to fully function as Christ followers, they have to leave behind the old self and take on a new identity.
Do you see what Paul is saying? He's telling us that when we become a Christian, God doesn't just hand us a new attitude and lifestyle at the time of our conversion. We have to make the choice to "put it on." Remember, accepting Christ doesn't take any work on our parts, but living for Christ does.
It's not in our nature to be like Christ. I am naturally a sinful person and I have to make an intentional choice to call myself out on the sin in my life and walk away from it. Paul tells the Ephesians (and us) that there are things that should be put aside now that they are following after Christ. Those things are (4:25-32):
- Lying
- Sinning while angry
- Stealing
- Unwholesome talk
- Bitterness
- Anger
- Slander
- Malice
- Unforgiveness
I hope you'll take some time to reflect on the ways of your old self that you haven't quite laid down . . . or perhaps you have, only to pick them back up again. Perhaps you and I are alike and you feel like you are doing well in one area of your life, only to be confronted head on with another area that needs attention.
Whether you're a new believer or if you've been a Christian for fifty years, we all need to stop and examine whether or not our lives represent a new creation or whether we look just like our old selves.
So, if you do what I do and take the time and energy to box up one season's clothes and replace them with the new season's wardrobe, then also take the time to pack up those clothes of unrighteousness that have made their way into your life and ask God to help you not pull them back out again.
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