Monday, February 21, 2011

Getting dressed

Ephesians 4:20-24- But that isn't what you learned about Christ.  Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life that is corrupted by lust and deception.  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy.

Colossians 3: 9-10-Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.  Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

Paul is giving us instruction here to put off our old nature and put on our new nature.  When we became Christians, we were given a new nature.  Until we enter glory we will always war with 2  natures even though we are Christians.  We struggle with our old nature, which gravitates toward sin and disobedience and we have the new nature, given to us when we are saved.  It is the nature that resembles Christ and walks in obedience to Him.

Paul is clear on this- we must make a conscience decision which nature we choose to wear.  When I go to my closet each morning to get dressed, I may stand in there for a few minutes deciding what to wear.  I may base my decision on what to wear according to many things....such as, the temperature outside, the comfort of one outfit over another, what is in style and so on.  I then make a decision and put on the outfit.

Each morning when we awake, we need to enter our prayer closet and make a decision to put on our new nature.  This will not always be easy.  Certainly there are times when our old nature would be easier, "more comfortable" because it doesn't require submission to the Holy Spirit.  Our old nature is certainly more stylish and in fashion in this world we live in.  We might be tempted to choose our old nature because we will "fit in" with everyone else.

But, the more time we spend with the Lord, the more we will desire to please Him and walk in our new nature.  It is a nature that continues to conform us into his image.  Our old nature will no longer feel so comfortable as the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us- our old nature will feel like those jeans in the back of our closet that we no longer fit into!

One thing is certain- it is a decision we must make.  I see it this way- would I get up in the morning and just not think about getting dressed?  Would I just blow it off and decide to go to work in my pajamas?  No!  It is the same here.  It's not something I can think about later.  Remember, procrastination is one of the devil's tools.  It is not something I can just not think about at all.  Satan will definitely take advantage of that and we will find ourselves in a mess.  It is something I must do every morning just like going to my closet to choose clothes to wear for the day.I encourage you  to begin each morning in your prayer closet with the Lord.  While you are there, put on your new nature.  Submit to the Holy Spirit and ask for His help.  Your old nature will raise its ugly head every now and then- but don't put it back on. You will find that your new nature may not be in style- so what, wear it anyway, you will find that it will call you to make choices between right and wrong- that's ok, keep it on.  The Lord is in the process of conforming us to His image.  He is the tailor of your new nature and He is the best tailor there is.  He will make little changes here and there.  Allow Him to do so.  You will one day stand before Him and hear Him say "well done, my child"  Can you think of anything better than that?  Let me know how it goes!

To God be the glory