The Shedding

Ephesians 4:20-24 – But that isn't the way Christ taught you! If you have really heard his voice and learned from him the truths concerning himself, then throw off your old evil nature — the old you that was a partner in your evil ways — rotten through and through, full of lust and sham. Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better. Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature. (TLB)

Now that the really warm weather has arrived, the horses get down to business shedding the last of their winter coats. They groom one another with their noses. They sidle up against the fence and then drag themselves along it to loosen even more hair. They back up and rub their rumps against the trees. But the most dramatic action is when they literally throw themselves on the ground and roll and roll, writhing on the packed earth to rid themselves of their now-excess coat.

Watching them, I was reminded of today's verses, written by Paul, regarding the changes that need to occur in a person's life once they have really come to understand their salvation in Jesus Christ and the truths that He teaches. Paul advises, "throw off your old evil nature". In other words, don't be ho-hum about it. Don't sit around waiting for things to change in your life. Be dramatic. Set your heart on pursuing the truth of Christ and His ways. Literally, set your heart, mind, and body to throw off old attitudes and thoughts, and immerse yourself in the new nature that God has blessed you with in Christ.

Such thoughts made me look at my own life. Yes, there has been much change over the years, but at the same time, I must ask, have I become complacent in regard to growing in holiness and goodness? Have I become settled in my ways, giving myself the excuse that nobody is perfect in order to cling to certain old attitudes and thoughts that I am rather tired of continuing to take to the Lord for His healing?

Yet, Paul does not give us an option to quit trying. He clearly states that our attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better. As God's people, we must continually be in flux, growing, being new and different, holy and good. We must ever be clothing ourselves with this new nature, by regularly clothing ourselves in the truth of God's Word and the person of Christ, through the power of His Holy Spirit.

So, let us not grow weary of throwing off and shedding our old evil natures, even if they are only a shade of their former selves. Rather, let us continue the good fight to be new and different people, holy and good, ever in flux for the glory of His kingdom and the betterment of this world.

Prayer: Father God, strengthen our hearts and minds today to be honest with You and ourselves in regard to any areas in our lives that still need changing. Guide us through the truth of Your Word to clothe ourselves in Christ, who is our new nature. In His name, we pray. Amen.

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