Put Off Put On

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call

I shared yesterday about the difference between resisting and replacing wrong thinking.  It is another way of expressing the pattern we see borne out in Scripture, to put off the old nature and put on the new. The reminder is that this walk of faith is active not passive.

“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth… Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him …” (Col 3:8-10) (i)

Perhaps we could compare “putting off” with resisting however the biblical pattern is always paired with a corresponding “put on.”  Resistance would not be sufficient for us to have consistent victory in our thought life. Just as putting off is only part of the picture, without the corresponding “put on” there would be no genuine change.

“…put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) (ii)

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:12-17) (iii)

When we are tempted to wrong thinking, whatever form it takes, rather than just try to not think those thoughts (resistance) we need to replace those thought with truth. In other words, put off wrong thinking and put on truth.  Practice this consistently and you will see your mind renewed by the power of His Word.

What best describes your walk of faith today?  Passive or active?

I pray we can all answer ACTIVE.

 

i Underlining mine
ii Underlining mine
iii Underlining mine

Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.

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This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4