Put On

 Col 3:12,14
 Put on therefore…mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Putting something on is an intentional action. It is a knowing act of choice. It is not governed by feeling or intimidation. We may put on a front to impress or deceive, and this also is done by choice. We often “Put on” because it is the right thing to do, and not necessarily the most expedient or convenient thing to do. Showing kindness and giving mercy is done with purpose. Patience and longsuffering is normally not an innate response when confronted with trials and difficult situations. We make a deliberate decision to be what God wants us to be. With the choice of doing what is good and kind, asking the Holy Spirit to empower you and work through you to be more like Jesus. Putting on is not acting or pretending, it is choosing to imitate what Christ would do. “What would Jesus Do?” is still a good question to ask before we act or react.

Put Off and Put On

Eph 4:22

Regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires.... and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature]..

The way we lived before coming to Christ will look different for everyone. Before Christ, we looked at life through a different lens. In our sinful state, we were focused on our own desires and contentment. For some, it may have been the pursuit of a career and financial security. Others focus on personal and social relationships, and there were those who looked for contentment by partaking of the pleasures of sin. But we have come face to face with Christ, and our way of life has changed. The looking glass of life has been renewed and we now see life through the eyes of Christ. Life takes on a new perspective, we may still desire to have career goals, social relationships, and even some of the pleasures of life that God has blessed us with.  But we now seek to please our Creator in everything we do. Christ is the center of our life and through the help of the Holy Spirit, we put on behaviors that will please Him.

Put On Love

Col 3:14

…In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Discord can happen between anyone who does not see things in the same way. Often conflict and division happens because of miscommunication or  someone’s actions that are perceived to be wrong or inappropriate. It is not always easy to just overlook things like this and act like everything is ok. Conflict in itself is not wrong, but allowing resentment and harvesting ill will toward others is not conducive to maintaining a close walk with God and seeking to be like Jesus. Paul recognized that we are human and our emotions can get the best of us. Putting on love is done with intentionality, in some cases it is an act of our will in spite of the circumstances. Love will seek resolution and unity. It will even work to love those who are our enemies and seek to destroy us. When love is put on between all involved it will be the perfect bond to keep us together in Christ.

The New Man

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Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

If you really know Jesus as you Lord and Savior, then the old life of sin will be put off and new the life in Christ will be put on. There may be some old habits that putting off may take time, but as we learn more about Jesus, He gives us the help we need to put off the things that bring leanness to our heart. What does this new man look like? How does this new man live? The new man is a seeker after the holiness of God. He desires to live right and do right. His life is controlled by God. He walks in the light that God gives him and allows the Holy Spirit to led him in the path of righteousness and true holiness. It is the will of God that the new man be sanctified and be a vessel filled with the Holy Spirit, ready to be used by Him.

Putting On The Garments of God

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

In many cultures, the clothes you wear reflect something about your position in life. Those who have the means and wear buy more expensive clothing that speaks to their station in life. Putting on clothes to impress or reflect social status in any society is at the very least superficial. What we wear does not speak to who we really are. Character of person cannot be dressed up on the outside. That is why God said, man looks on the outside, but God looks on the inside. Aside from being appropriately modest in our dress, I seriously doubt that God really cares about the style, or the customs of what we put on. The clothing God desire for us to put on is the garment of mercy, kindness, humility, patience, joy, peacemaker, endurance, and most of all the garment of holiness which is the love of God. As we get dress each day, let us not forget what really matter. Dressing for success in the kingdom of God goes deeper than looking good. May we dress each day by putting the garments that reflect the life of Christ.

Put It On

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Put it on! As we prepare for the day, we put on clothing that prepares us to do our daily task. In our home,when we get ready for church, we try and dress in apparel that will honor God, we are going to His house and desire to look our best. We make choices daily what we will “Put On” We know those who put on a front. The way they act is more of a “put off”, their “put on” is not real. They act to impress. For those who are in Christ, putting on is not fake. It comes from a natural desire of being part of the Vine. The fruits of our lives are real, but there is nothing wrong with being intentional about our actions if it comes from a heart that desire to please God. Showing (putting on) love, kindness, and mercy to others will show the world that we care about them. We live in a world where everyone is putting on selfish living. If they don’t get their way, they become upset and many times unkind. Let us put on that which is right and just, let us show others that there is a God that cares. Let us put on compassion and bowels of mercy.

Putting on Christ

Num. 15:38, 40 “Put upon the fringe of the borders a ribbon of blue....that ye may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy unto your God”- 

God does not want us to forget who brought us out of sin. Keeping Christ at the center and focus of our life will help us to remember who saved us from sin and that He desires that we follow Him and do His commandments. We are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. When we put on Christ it is our badge of identity. It reminds people who we are and who we belong to. Living a life of sin and putting on Christ are not compatible. We cannot say that Christ is living in us and through us when we live contrary to His commandments. When we are tempted to live in the flesh and fulfill the lust of the flesh, He is faithful and willing to deliver us. “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us...” Being holy unto God is to be set apart and ready to be used by Him. To be holy does not mean that we live a perfect life without error, it means that our heart’s desires more to be like Jesus. Having put on Christ, we are reminded that in everything we do in life, it is done knowing that Christ is the center, and doing His will is the only things that really matters. “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Roman 13:14