+DEV+ Always in Style

Date: January 27, 2011 9:16 PM
Topic: +DEV+ Always in Style

Always in Style

"They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts" (Ephesians 4:18).
Scripture Focus: Ephesians 4:17-32

Each season retailers advertise new lines of clothing, promoting new styles and latest trends. It's hard to keep up with the changes!

Paul's encouragement "to put off your old self... and to put on the new self" relates to the clothing of our mind. The purpose isn't to make ourselves, our church, or our God reflect a fashionable image. The purpose is for us to reflect the very image of God.

When the routine of life turns into a season of heartache, we usually don't understand God's ways. Bitterness clothes us. After all, a darkened understanding coordinates well with distancing ourselves from God and hardening our hearts. But we "did not come to know Christ that way" (Ephesians 4:20).

Even while we wait for a difficult situation to end, we remember we're clothed in righteousness. Because Christ has redeemed us, we wear the clothing that displays truthfulness, self-control, and encouragement, attributes reflecting our magnificent Designer. Such apparel, purchased for us with Christ's own blood, will never go out of style.

Insight: Dress for the day from God's wardrobe. Put on truth, sharing, uplifting conversations, self-control, kindness and forgiveness.