Friday, June 25, 2010

ESSENTIAL #25 Putting On The New Self

Colossians 3 : 1-17


The Bible tells us “take off this, put on that”, “don’t do this, do that”, “throw away this, keep that”, “don’t choose this, choose that”. How do we approach this new life with success? The same way we would approach a new eating plan, business, or exercise program, with vision, excitement, expectation, and most of all with the help of the Holy Spirit! We know that old habits have to die and new habits must replace them. Every day we are faced with choices that will determine the outcome, no matter how little they are. The more we make the right choices, the easier it becomes. Is it hard at first, absolutely! Without a goal there’s no reason to continue. We must keep our eyes on the prize…Jesus.

I’ve been thinking about the passage for a while and the picture I keep getting in my head is one of a person standing in front of a dresser with layers and layers of shirts on. Those shirts are ….well you name them, whatever it is that keeps doggin your heels, holding you back from being who Jesus wants you to be. Every time (I’ll make it a he) he makes the right choice and gets freed just a little more, he walks over to the dresser and opens the “drawer of no return”, he pulls a shirt over his head and tosses it into the drawer and shuts it. He’s a little lighter, he can run a little faster, feels good about himself. Reminds me of the Biggest Loser, each pound they shed, they can run a little faster, their attitude changes for the better. When we toss those shirts in the drawer, we’ve just shed a little spiritual baggage.

We can walk a little lighter, sing a little louder, have a “happier heart” knowing that we did what was right in His sight….which after all, is WHAT matters!


By Diana Shibilsky


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