JANUARY 13TH, 2021      |      A life in Christ is about putting off the old and putting on the new. Our old lives, styles of relating, habits and hang-ups are buried with Christ at salvation, and our new lives are reflections of the new heart and desires Christ is birthing in us. While figurative in nature, the putting off and putting on is much like changing uniforms from one team to the other. Colossians gives us a list of what we are “putting off or aside”: anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech and lying (3:8-9). That is our old “uniform.”

So what are we to “put on”? How are we to relate to others in our new lives in Christ? Colossians 3:12-17 beautifully describes our new “uniform.” Dear son or daughter, chosen of God, “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another and forgiving one another, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” (Col 3:12-14, NASB) Isn’t this a beautiful way of relating to one another?

Finish your time today by reading verses 12-17 a few more times. Let the words soak deeply into your spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas where you are lacking and thank Him for the areas that are strengths. Does the word of Christ richly dwell within you? If not, why not? Ask Him for a hunger for His Word and for His presence.