…clothe yourselves with …
Summary: Paul provides us with an interesting metaphor for Christian living — putting on clothes. It is something we all do every day, and it is an easy way to visualize the change God wants to see in our lives.
Yikes! This is where Christianity gets real.
Looking back at verses nine and ten, Paul talks about taking off the “old self” and putting on the “new self.” Now he is telling us exactly how to do it. In the transition from nonbeliever to believer, this difference between “old self” and “new” is where the rubber hits the road.
And what, exactly, is the difference?
The answer has to do with who is in charge of your life.
We are all wired with something called “self-interest.” Self-interest in its purest form is simply the desire to stay alive. If Adam and Eve had never been tempted by the serpent, this desire for life would have kept them from touching the forbidden tree (Genesis 2-3).
Unfortunately, when they ate the forbidden fruit, they “died” as God had warned (Genesis 2:16-17). They became separated from God which is the same as being spiritually dead. What was left were two bodies whose self-interest became their god.
Self-interest apart from God is responsible for everything that is wrong in the world. Every rape, burglary, and murder is the result of serving self-interest. Every time a person lies or manipulates another, they are serving their self-interest. Even simple arguments are because of self-interest.
The only cure for this horrible condition is putting God before self (Matthew 22:37-40). The person who subordinates their self-interest to God is transformed because of who God is.
God is love (1 John 4:8).
The kind of love God has for us appears stern when we behave badly, and life-giving when we humbly submit. Without God’s Word, the Bible, we might be unsure what it means to submit to God’s will. Fortunately, God provided us with a wealth of information.
Submitting to God is like putting on clothes when you get dressed in the morning.
The godly person still has self-interest, but he is clothed in humility; bowed before God. The outer clothing is that which is seen by others; compassion, kindness, gentleness, and patience. The man or woman of God hides the balance sheet kept by self-interest and erases any entries with a forgiving heart.
Finally, most challenging of all, is wrapping self-interest in submission to others. Not submission to their self-interest, but rather submission to their existence. We allow them to exist as equals to our own self-interest.
God’s closet is full of wonderful “clothing” to wear. It is all perfectly tailored to our needs and our size. All we have to do is put them on.
Application: Get dressed with God!
Food for Thought: What keeps these godly “clothes” in place once we have put them on?
What keeps these godly “clothes” in place once we have put them on?
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, Colossians 3:12
Those who believe in Jesus Christ receive all of His righteousness as a gift. We are given a new nature, which Paul describes as the “new self.” Our new self is based on the truth of Christ’s completed work for us. He is the power for all changes in our Christian lives, our present and ongoing obedience in putting off the old and putting on the new. Believers are clothed in the presence and power of Jesus Christ by the power of Gods Holy Spirit who is sent to dwell in the hearts of all who call upon the Lord.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26
By this, we know that we reside in him and he in us: that he has given us of his Spirit. 1 John 4:13
The love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5
Amen, Ron!
Without the Holy Spirit we can do nothing!
Thanks for the devotional brother and thank you R2T2 for the attention to the role of the Holy Spirit, which is so important. I agree.
I would also add that we have moment by moment decisions to follow Christ and submit to the Holy Spirit. We have to have the mentality and devotion to do as the old hymn says, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.”
We chose moment by moment to be all in following Christ or to serve our selfish interests. So prayerfully we will all choose wisely today.
Thank you, Rich.
Amen to that, too! There is room for both, isn’t there? We submit our will to God and the Holy Spirit helps us continue on that path.
Blessings!
What keeps these godly “clothes” in place once we have put them on?
Each other. Which the Holy Spirit. Just like iron sharpening iron. Also with us conforming to the likeness of Jesus soon the clothes just fit. And last resort would be lots of staples.
LOL!
Tim — I think I’ll pass on the staples. Maybe duct tape??