Ahhhh…Spring. God’s creation is being renewed all around us. Grass and wheat fields are greening, flowers and trees blooming, birds singing and nesting. Here in my “nest”, I’ve gotten spring cleaning under way.In a quirky turn of events, I began cleaning out closets and drawers just as our LBM Bible study focused on the book of Colossians. It turns out that the Apostle Paul had a lot to say about what the well dressed Christian man or woman should wear, and what should go to the rag bag.
Remember how we used to wear new dresses for Easter? They symbolized new creation and new life. Read what Paul says in Colossians 3:1
“Since you became alive again, so to speak, when Christ arose from the dead, now set your sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven where he sits beside God in the place of honor and power.”
Here is another great verse to remind us of our new life in Christ:
“If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come.” 2 Cor 3:17
Paul goes on to say that since we are new creations in Christ, we need to look the part. My husband has a favorite shirt that he likes to wear around the house, a definite rag bag candidate. This shirt is old, with ground in dirt and grease stains, threadbare cuffs and collar, and now both elbows are ripped completely across. Sigh. He’s like a dog with a bone with that shirt. I’ve tried to get him to let it go and wear any of the nicer work type shirts he has, but no. He tells me this particular shirt, and this shirt only, is the most comfortable and easy wearing. It is the very essence of what Paul says “not to wear”.
“If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come.” 2 Cor 3:17
Paul goes on to say that since we are new creations in Christ, we need to look the part. My husband has a favorite shirt that he likes to wear around the house, a definite rag bag candidate. This shirt is old, with ground in dirt and grease stains, threadbare cuffs and collar, and now both elbows are ripped completely across. Sigh. He’s like a dog with a bone with that shirt. I’ve tried to get him to let it go and wear any of the nicer work type shirts he has, but no. He tells me this particular shirt, and this shirt only, is the most comfortable and easy wearing. It is the very essence of what Paul says “not to wear”.
“Away then with sinful, earthly things; deaden the evil desires lurking within you; have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust and shameful desires; don’t worship the good things of life, for that is idolatry. God’s terrible anger is upon those who do such things. You used to do them when your life was still part of this world; but now is the time to cast off and throw away all these rotten garments of anger, hatred, cursing, and dirty language. Col 3:5-8
This is the part that reminds me of my husband’s shirt. Paul says now is the time to throw away the rotten garments of our sinful nature. God is ready to clothe us as daughters of the King, so why do we cling to our old “apparel”--our old habits, thoughts and self? We’re just like my husband—we hang on to the old because it’s been comfortable and easy. However, if we’re going to make room for our “extreme make-over” wardrobe, as a new creature in Christ, we have to get rid of the old rags.
This is the part that reminds me of my husband’s shirt. Paul says now is the time to throw away the rotten garments of our sinful nature. God is ready to clothe us as daughters of the King, so why do we cling to our old “apparel”--our old habits, thoughts and self? We’re just like my husband—we hang on to the old because it’s been comfortable and easy. However, if we’re going to make room for our “extreme make-over” wardrobe, as a new creature in Christ, we have to get rid of the old rags.
It’s like a spring cleaning our soul, hearts and minds. Let in the light of God’s love and sweep out all the filthy thoughts and cobwebs of old hurts and bitterness, and discard the piles of destructive habits and thought patterns.
“Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others…Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Most of all, let love guide your life…and always be thankful".
Col 3:12-14
I love to think about being clothed in gentleness, tenderheartedness, mercy and kindness. One Bible version I read said, that over all those we need to put on love. These virtues are our new garments befitting new creatures in Christ. Wearing them, we’ll always look our best and never be out of style! Best of all, we’ll be marked as Christ’s own.
If we want more of God, we need to make space by getting rid of lesser things. Actually, if we want more of God, we have to empty ourselves so there is “less of me”. My will, selfish plans, and desires and more of God’s—but it’s like a glass of water. You can’t pour any more into a glass already full. It has to be emptied first.
For example, my daughter was showing me how to get on Pinterest the other day and we were having fun looking at all the ideas. My son walked by and said, “We all have our idols, don’t we?” Ouch! What a killjoy. But, oh how true. We settle too often for “filthy rags” instead of the higher things of God. (I haven't been on Pinterest lately as I gave it up for Lent!)
If we want more of God, we need to make space by getting rid of lesser things. Actually, if we want more of God, we have to empty ourselves so there is “less of me”. My will, selfish plans, and desires and more of God’s—but it’s like a glass of water. You can’t pour any more into a glass already full. It has to be emptied first.
For example, my daughter was showing me how to get on Pinterest the other day and we were having fun looking at all the ideas. My son walked by and said, “We all have our idols, don’t we?” Ouch! What a killjoy. But, oh how true. We settle too often for “filthy rags” instead of the higher things of God. (I haven't been on Pinterest lately as I gave it up for Lent!)
Having more of God means paying less attention to my interests, and paying more attention to His. The words He speaks to me in the Bible, the love He shows me in hundreds of blessings every day, the people He puts around me to love and serve, and the things He has for me to do for Him. These are the things He longs to pour into me until "my cup runneth over".
One More Wardrobe Note
One More Wardrobe Note
My best present this Christmas was a little pair of purple KSU socks that will never fit me. This was the clever way my son and daughter-in-law chose to tell us that we’re going to be Grandparents!! Me, a Grandma. It takes a little getting used to. Many of my fellow blog writers love their Grandma status and I see new challenges ahead for me, which brings me to:
Never Underestimate the Power of a Grandma
This is a sign my friend Mary Hildebrand has and she is one awesome Grandma. We were discussing people who had brought “more of God” to us at Bible study the other day and all of us mentioned something a Grandmother had done to strengthen our faith walk. What a joy!! What a responsibility!! I want to put “more of God” into a new generation!
Easter reminds us of new life and new possibilities because God made us “new” in Christ. Make time for more of God and Jesus as we enter Holy Week.
I grew up celebrating the “seasons” of the church and I still like the lessons and reminders found in some of our traditions. A great project to do is an "Easter Garden" in a basket. Go to www.aholyexperience.com for directions(part of her blog on about March 23) and great devotions. This is the web site of Ann Voskamp, the author of the book , one thousand gifts . If you haven't read it, or you aren't counting the gifts God sends us every day, join us....you will be blessed! Other ideas to celebrate Holy Week are:
This is a sign my friend Mary Hildebrand has and she is one awesome Grandma. We were discussing people who had brought “more of God” to us at Bible study the other day and all of us mentioned something a Grandmother had done to strengthen our faith walk. What a joy!! What a responsibility!! I want to put “more of God” into a new generation!
Easter reminds us of new life and new possibilities because God made us “new” in Christ. Make time for more of God and Jesus as we enter Holy Week.
I grew up celebrating the “seasons” of the church and I still like the lessons and reminders found in some of our traditions. A great project to do is an "Easter Garden" in a basket. Go to www.aholyexperience.com for directions(part of her blog on about March 23) and great devotions. This is the web site of Ann Voskamp, the author of the book , one thousand gifts . If you haven't read it, or you aren't counting the gifts God sends us every day, join us....you will be blessed! Other ideas to celebrate Holy Week are:
Palm Sunday—Order Palm branches for the kids in Sunday School. It makes a great visual reminder of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
The Last Supper-or the first communion.(Thursday) Explain the events and how Jesus was actually celebrating the Feast of the Passover also. We continue to take the wine and bread at communion in remembrance of Jesus giving his life for us, His body and blood given for us.
Passover—this is a great reminder of what God did for the Jewish people and for all of us. Discuss the symbolism of the different foods: unleavened bread as they had to leave Egypt in a hurry, bitter herbs and salt water for the bitterness and tears of their slavery, lamb for the slain sacrifice and the blood over the doors (use catsup, it washes right off) so the angel of death would “pass over” the Jewish homes without harm.
Good Friday- Read to your family of the events of Jesus’ crucifixion and the reactions of those around him. Remind yourself and others that it was a day of sorrow and fear. I’ve read of families who unplug all the entertainment and even lights, symbolizing that the “light of the world”, Jesus, seemed to have left us in darkness.
Saturday- a day of waiting and preparation. Clean house, get your Easter clothes ready, dye eggs to enjoy tomorrow morning.
Easter Sunday—“He Is Risen!” Greet your family with this greeting, and they respond, “He Is Risen, Indeed”!. Rejoice, the tomb was empty!! Jesus is very much alive and we celebrate that. (Look back at some of my old blogs and the Kids and Others section for other ideas)
This week, and this month, let’s make space in our lives for more of God. Do some spring cleaning --in your house and your heart--to get rid of the earthly clutter that takes our time, energy and focus away from God. We need to empty ourselves of ourselves to let God pour more of Himself into us. Remember to “put on” tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others, gentleness and forgiveness, and above all, put on love. Then we will truly be new creatures in Christ.
The Last Supper-or the first communion.(Thursday) Explain the events and how Jesus was actually celebrating the Feast of the Passover also. We continue to take the wine and bread at communion in remembrance of Jesus giving his life for us, His body and blood given for us.
Passover—this is a great reminder of what God did for the Jewish people and for all of us. Discuss the symbolism of the different foods: unleavened bread as they had to leave Egypt in a hurry, bitter herbs and salt water for the bitterness and tears of their slavery, lamb for the slain sacrifice and the blood over the doors (use catsup, it washes right off) so the angel of death would “pass over” the Jewish homes without harm.
Good Friday- Read to your family of the events of Jesus’ crucifixion and the reactions of those around him. Remind yourself and others that it was a day of sorrow and fear. I’ve read of families who unplug all the entertainment and even lights, symbolizing that the “light of the world”, Jesus, seemed to have left us in darkness.
Saturday- a day of waiting and preparation. Clean house, get your Easter clothes ready, dye eggs to enjoy tomorrow morning.
Easter Sunday—“He Is Risen!” Greet your family with this greeting, and they respond, “He Is Risen, Indeed”!. Rejoice, the tomb was empty!! Jesus is very much alive and we celebrate that. (Look back at some of my old blogs and the Kids and Others section for other ideas)
This week, and this month, let’s make space in our lives for more of God. Do some spring cleaning --in your house and your heart--to get rid of the earthly clutter that takes our time, energy and focus away from God. We need to empty ourselves of ourselves to let God pour more of Himself into us. Remember to “put on” tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others, gentleness and forgiveness, and above all, put on love. Then we will truly be new creatures in Christ.
Suzanne, so well written. Don's shirt was a perfect illustration for our Colossians study. He would never survive "What Not To Wear" for they would make him part with that special shirt and he would be broken hearted forever. :0)
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