Putting Off What Needs to be Put On...

When we become followers of Jesus, God begins the process of changing and transforming our lives. And God invites us to participate in the process of transformation by doing two things.

First, we are to participate in the process of transforming our character by putting to death the desires of our old selfish nature that exists apart from our relationship with Jesus. A writer named Paul talks about our need to put to death the desires of our old nature in Colossians 3:5-11:

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him-- a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

Second, we are to participate in the process of transforming our character by putting to practice the desires of our new nature that we receive when we become followers of Jesus. We see Paul talk about this in Colossians 3:12-17:

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

The problem is that sometimes we can put off what we need to put on and we can put on what we need to put off. So, if you are a follower of Jesus, are you partnering in what God desires to do in your life? Are you putting off the old and putting into practice the new?