Change Your Clothes

Change Your Clothes 

Scripture: Ephesians 4:21-24 

“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, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on our new nature, created to be like God- truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:21-24 

The other day my son got dressed at 5 pm. A few hours later I told him it was time to get pajamas on, in a whiny voice he replied, “but mom I just got dressed.” During this social distancing season, I know I’m not alone in this. There are a lot of funny jokes about our clothes these days. I’m currently in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy and thankful yoga pants are acceptable 24/7. But on a serious note, hygiene is very important during this season and many families, including mine, are taking extra care in hygiene. 

But I want to ask you how your spiritual hygiene has been? We have been given an opportunity to clean our spiritual lives, to reprioritize what is truly important. Most days, when my son gets dressed, I must remind him to change his underwear. He puts on new clothes but doesn’t take off all his dirty clothes. Ephesians 4:21 says to “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life”. God doesn’t want us to keep our dirty sinful ways in our lives anymore. He knows that this is just going to create hardship for us. It will steal our joy and create a stinky attitude. But we must take it off. What habits? What attitude? What thoughts do you need to throw off?  

God wants you to take off these sinful ways and “instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God- truly righteous and holy.” How are you letting the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes? Are you spending time reading the Bible, listening to worship music, and praying? Romans 8:6 says “but letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.” What you feed your mind with is what your attitude is going to reflect. If you feed it with God’s word your attitude is going to be clothed with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12 

God is asking you to throw off your old dirty clothes and put on his new clean clothes. Both of these require action on your part. What habit do you need to get rid of that is causing sin to live in your life or create a negative thought process? What habit do you need to put on to let God renew your thoughts and attitudes? 

Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, that you created me to be like you. Please forgive me for the areas in my life that I have allowed my sinful nature to stay. Please help me throw off (list your area of sin you need to throw off). Thank you that you will renew my thoughts and attitude. Please help me put on a Christ-like attitude. Thank you for your forgiveness and love you pour out on me each day. 

Song: Shane and Shane- Take Over 

-Kristolyn