These reflections, based on Colossians 3:1–14, look at how we are to take off our old, sinful self and put on the new self we have in Christ.
‘since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self’ (vv9–10)
In recent devotional posts we have focused on the fact that we are new creations in Christ and, as such, can find our identity in Him. We can rest assured that we are accepted and loved by God as His children. However, this passage instructs us that, because we have now been ‘raised with Christ’ we need to ‘Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things’ (v3).
STARTING THE PROCESS
There is a process in our journey with God. We need to learn to ‘take off’ our old, sinful self, and ‘put on’ the new self we have in Christ. I love how direct these verses (in a similar passage) in Ephesians are about this: ‘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.’ (Eph. 4:22–24).
The rest of this devotional series will look at what we need to take off, and then what attributes we are to clothe ourselves in.
CLOTHING OURSELVES WELL
I find the active imagery in Colossians 3 extremely useful. While we know we are new creations in Christ, we can have a tendency to slip the clothing from our old nature back on. Here we are being reminded to purposefully clothe ourselves with the virtues of our new nature.
God once told our church to stop putting our old, filthy rags back on. He reminded us that He has provided each one of us with a dazzling white garment. While we may find that old clothing comfortable and ‘easy’ to wear, it is dirty and unhealthy for us.
It is really challenging to think about these characteristics as if they are clothing. I am sure you take time to decide what to wear each day. Do you take the same amount of care over clothing yourself in kindness, gentleness and patience?
Prayer I am sorry Lord when I choose to wear clothing from my old nature. Teach me how to actively put on my new self daily. Amen.