You know that moment when it is early in the morning and you are lying in bed as your alarm is going off? You do not want to get up, but you know you have to whether it be for work, school, maybe even an appointment. But what do you do once you turn off your alarm and get out of bed? You get ready. You eat breakfast, brush your teeth and hair, and if you wear it, you put on makeup. But one of the important parts of your routine is to dress accordingly for the day. It is a routine that you have to do every single day. I hope you will not tell me that you go to work in your pajamas!
I like that the Bible tells you to clothe yourself accordingly, though. For example, Romans 13:14 states, “Rather, clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” To clothe yourself means to put on. To put on means that you are not wearing it already. Kind of like your work clothes, you are not wearing them already if you are lying in bed with your alarm clock ringing away. It is a routine you must deliberately do every single day. We are constantly putting on different clothing for work, bedtime, exercise, weddings, etc. And we must deliberately “put on” Jesus Christ every day as well. But that sounds funny, doesn’t it? How can we put on a Being?
Remember in John 13 when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet? He took off his outer clothing, and “put on” a towel around his waist. He washed and dried his disciples’ feet with that towel. He deliberately did this too, to be an example to his disciples. Essentially, Jesus put on servanthood at this moment. Jesus showed qualities of servanthood, truthfulness, humility, and love in his human life. He did not focus on himself or how to meet his wants and needs. We need to be the same way.
We can “put on” Jesus Christ through identifying with him and by exemplifying him. We can identify with him through baptism. In baptism, you are taking up a new identity and nature while you are making a public statement that you are a dedicated follower of Christ. By exemplifying him, you are to live as he lived.
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12
Start the day by deliberately putting on your new self, as it is a new day after all. Allocate time to bond with friends, family, and to meet and converse with others. Put on that compassionate heart. Hold open that door for that person whose hands are full. Hug that hurting individual. Put on that kindness, that humility, that meekness. Do not complain or get frenzied if the line is too long, there is traffic on the freeway, or your child is throwing a temper tantrum. Take a deep breath, relax, and put on that patience. And do not rush! When you do, you just may miss that perfect opportunity or situation where you could “put on” Jesus Christ!
You were taught, concerning your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4: 22-24 NIV
Featured Image by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash
Scriptural Musings with Booferchick 
Very practical and thought provoking article! We need to be constantly consicous of our true identity in Christ and not make provision for the flesh. We do that by our thoughts. We have to make a decision to walk in the spirit everyday, and as a result we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
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