I went naked the other day. That’s right. I took all my clothes off and shoveled snow in the buff. Oops, I mean in my underwear.
Of course I’m joking. It was way too cold to do that!! 🙂 Although if you want to get technical (and a bit legalistic) I did shovel snow in my underwear. I just had other clothes over top of them. Jeans. T-shirt. Socks. Boots. Sweatshirt. Jacket. Gloves. Hat.
And before I went outside I changed clothes. All I had on before that was a t-shirt and a pair of lounge pants. I took off to put on.
Silly illustration I know. But I honestly do have a point. In Colossians 3: 5-14 Paul tells us we need to “take off” in order to “put on.” The list for both is long:
TAKE OFF sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, greed (idolatry) (verse 5). Anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene speech, lying (Verses 8-9)
PUT ON a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love (Verses 12-14)
Take off to put on. Take off the old; put on the new. I like the end result: “Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” (v.23)
I’ve always like verse 23. Sort of puts it all into a nutshell. My purpose/your purpose? To glorify God in all things.
“Father, may that be the reason I do what I do-to glorify You. Please help me not to bring shame to Your Name.”
I have to agree that verse 23 says it all here, Bill. May God’s presence so permeated us that we can only do and say things that bring Him the glory.
Blessings!
That is my prayer as well Martha.
Didn’t know where you were going with that when you first started… Had me a bit concerned 🙂 Can’t fill a vessel full of toxic mud (vs 5,8-9) with clean water (vs 12-14) … just doesn’t work. The vessel must cleaned a purified (vs 23).
Good thoughts… I think we can all shed some clothes or dump some mud.
Some concern is good. 🙂 You put it well though, Ryan, about toxic mud and clean water. And yes, we all need to do some shedding.
Crazy… I have days.. ok, ok.. LOT’S of consecutive days.. where I completely forget verse 23. Hoping I get it right before my time is due….
It is a day to day struggle Ed. Least I experience that.