Custom Made Clothing Made for Just for You
We are doing a physical clean out of our closet and and the same time we are cleaning out our spiritual closet as well.
Out goes: What does not fit me and the new person I am in Christ.
In comes: what is more appropriate for 1) the season I am in and 2) the person I am in Christ.
We have already discussed the throwing out phase, today we will focus on the new wardrobe that Christ supplies. We want a new set of clothes that reflect what is going on inside of us in our new relationship with Jesus Christ, or even in the new season that our life is in. Looking at Eph 3:23-24 in the Amplified version, we get an idea of this new set of clothing we are looking for:
“…and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation]. (Eph 4:23-24 Amplified Version)
Notice it is a continuous process of change in the person that you are, you are being regenerated and renewed to be more and more like Jesus. It is a new nature that we are likening to a set of clothing that reflects my new life in Christ: it is attitudes, thinking and behavior that is in line with what God has revealed to me in scripture lately, and what I have come to understand. Which is why, I think we are continually needing to do a spiritual revamp of our closet, because God is continually revealing more and more of Himself and His nature to us from scripture, showing us what our new way of life is to be like. The Holy Spirit plays an important role in showing us what old clothing (attitudes and thinking) needs to go. I love how Ephesians 4:20-24 below, calls it a “God-fashioned life” where we wear attitudes, thinking and behavior which is in line with the character God is producing in us. He is our spiritual fashion adviser.
“But that’s no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you..” (Eph 4:20-24 The Message)
Also look at these phrases in Col 3:9-11 in the Message: “Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete.”
No matter what season of life you are in, whether a brand new believer, or a mature believer, each season will have “clothing” (attitudes, thinking and behavior) that has become obsolete, and God will have new clothing designed for where you are in your spiritual walk as you walk out His plans for you.
The Holy Spirit will show you what to throw out and what to put into your spiritual closet, we merely need to ask Him to show us.
How does He do this? Through the Word of God! Notice in Eph 4:20-24 above, Paul assumes “You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus.”
As we engage in scripture on a day to day basis, we do our part by engaging in a process of the exchange of truth, we learn to “set your hearts on things above” (Col 3:1) and “set your minds on things above” (Col3:2). We are sanctified and renewed by the truth as found in scripture: “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17) The Holy Spirit then does His Part by completing the process of bringing about our new nature, as we learn to live with the Spirit’s help and co-operate with His guidance.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.“ (John 14:26 KJV)
We learn to: “Live by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the sinful nature,” (Gal 5:16) and eventually the fruit of the Spirit (our new nature) starts to be produced in our lives (Gal 5:22-23)
What exactly do these new spiritual clothes look like? Paul provides more detail in Col 3:12-13 (Message)
“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”
We have to make a conscious effort to “put on” this new clothing God has given us; it will not come naturally.
But it is the only clothing that will give expression to your identity in Christ. A conscious effort needs to be made to put on new attitudes, new thinking, new speak, new behavior. It is a firm decision to be changing in our person and lifestyle, to reflect more of the identity of Jesus to others.
God has a wardrobe specifically designed for His children that does not even begin to compare with the clothing of our own making. It reflects His righteousness and the beauty of His holiness so that His glory is displayed to the world. It is to be our permanent clothing, a new wardrobe that will never wear out and always be in style with God’s best.
Reflection Questions:
- People should be seeing a difference in your life from the world around you. Would you say that people will observe that you have changed in the last year? Can you identify how your thoughts, attitudes and actions have changed as a result of translating scriptural truth into how you live your life?
- Have you ever decided to put on a new behavior or attitude in your life, but then given up, or gone back to old ways? Has the enemy slowed down the process of change for you, so that you have decided to give up and stop? Do you believe that the new clothing that God has designed for us, will bring out the best in you?
- Do you regularly take part in the process of reading your bible and implementing changes to your life with the help of the Spirit? Can you recall a time that the Spirit called into remembrance a truth that you learnt, then helped you to bring about a new way of thinking or behaving in your life?
- Looking at the list which describes this new clothing of Christ-like garments that we are to be wearing, which of these needs more work in your life? What do you need to more purposefully put on in your life?
Thank you, Father, that I am a new creation in Christ. I lay aside my old thinking, attitudes and ways of life, and embrace the new “clothes” that are more in keeping with who I am now, my new position as your child. I put on mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness as my new way of life. Thank You Lord for clothing me with dignity and strength so that I may glorify You with my life.
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