Let me ask, "Whatcha wearin' today"? No I'm not asking about the clothes you put on this morning or how you're dressed. I'm asking if you've heard the freedom giving truth that each day you and I get to put on a new way of life as we face each day. In Colossians 3 Paul informs us that we are new in Christ, and as a new person in Christ we have work to do in our lives. He first tells us to put off the old way of life. He tells us to put off lying, anger, slander, abusive speech, malice (Col. 3:8-9). You see we get to decide if we'll gossip, talk about others, speak words that hurt and cut into others.
Then in verse 10 - 14 Paul says we are to put on the new self. That new self, empowered to do so because we are "in Christ", we put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. He takes it a step further and says we are to bear with one another, forgive each other, if you have a complaint against anyone we are to forgive them just as Christ forgave us. Then he tops it off by saying in verse 14, put on love.
Take inventory of your actions and heart today. First, are you "in Christ', do you know Him? Second, is your life characterized by the actions mentioned in verse 8 - 9 or verse 12 - 14? Today I challenge you to dress differently than those who do not know the Lord and put on a new self. Remember Jesus said that the world will know we are His disciples by the love we have for one another.
I'll see you Sunday,
Pastor Carl