Tag: put off
Set your minds!
Scripture reading for September 10: Colossians 3
“Set your minds on things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not things on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ Who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.” Colossians 3:2-10
“As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.” (Proverbs 27:19) Solomon understood that a person’s heart and what resides there is reflected by his attitudes and actions. Jesus taught that out of the abundance of the heart come words and actions. (Matthew 15:18-20) These defile a person and bring God’s wrath. So Paul, writing to the Colossians, encouraged them to set their minds and hearts on the things above and Christ Who was seated at God’s right hand. In doing so, they would put on the ‘new self’ that was being renewed after the image of God the Creator.
In order to put on this ‘new self,’ the believers should put to death the earthly passions that once controlled their thinking and actions. To help them clearly understand, Paul listed a few of the most common earthly passions: sexual immorality, impurity, evil desires and covetousness. He emphasized that God’s wrath in judgment would come upon them if they continued in their old mindset. But in Christ, they received forgiveness of sins and cleansing of the heart through faith. Now they must choose to put off that old self marked by anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk. They were freed from earthly passions to set their minds on Christ and His holy life working in them now to prepare them for eternity.
Have you experienced the change in mindset that has resulted in putting off the old self? How is our world view affected when we set our minds on Christ seated at God’s right hand? What aspects of the ‘old self’ are you still dealing with and how does this instruction help you?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the clear instructions about making good choices to put off the old nature. I thank You that Christ took Your wrath for my sins on the cross. I invite the Holy Spirit to empower me to live in the ‘new creation’ and live life in the renewed image of Jesus Christ. Amen.
A heavenly make-over!
Scripture reading for September 26th: Ephesians 4:17-32
“You were taught with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)
After salvation, pastors and teachers begin to help new believers with what I call a “heavenly make-over.” God works through the Holy Spirit on our inner man and we must change our thinking and attitudes in order to put on the new man. This happens through sound doctrinal teaching of the word of God. We must put on the attitude of a disciple and humbly receive the Word. We also must put off the old man, recognizing its corruption. God wants to form us into the image and character of His Son but we must cooperate and make choices to allow this transformation to take place.
Paul, in his calling of pastor and teacher, goes on to detail what sort of changes need to be made. The new believer must cease lying and begin telling the truth. When angry, one must not let the sun go down on his anger because this gives the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:27) If you give him an inch, he will take a mile! If you have a problem stealing, go to work and become a giver to those who are needy. These practical changes seem like common sense to those who have walked with Christ. The world system is “normal” to the unsaved and newly converted.
This make-over will affect other areas of your life and attitudes. Our speech will change from vulgar and critical to loving and encouraging. Building up each other will be the new way instead of tearing each other down. We will develop a new sensitivity to the Holy Spirit who lives in us. The Holy Spirit will help us by letting us know when we need to make changes. We will feel His grief! (Ephesians 4:30) We will sweep out all bitterness, slander, and malice towards others and clothe ourselves with Christ’s kindness and compassion. Forgiveness will be the rule when wronged, instead of revenge. How thankful I am for this heavenly make-over! I need touch-ups regularly and continued training in sensitivity to the nudging of the Holy Spirit!