Change Your Clothes

“You’re not going to wear that, are you?”

Have you ever heard those words, or used them yourself? I know I have used them, particularly while raising our three children. I also have had the misfortune of needing to use them as a Christian private high school administrator when dealing with students who violated the school’s dress code.

The author of Ephesians, Paul, uses the image of changing clothes to describe how our lives should be radically altered after encountering the living Jesus. In other words, as I used to say to my kids, your clothing sends a message. In the same way, our actions as Christians send a message.

A few verses later in Ephesians 4, Paul actually contrasts some of the behavior associated with people who are not Christ-followers with those who are. Some examples include truth-telling instead of lying and working for a living rather than stealing.

The thing is, though, in the same way we get dressed every morning, choosing clothing in keeping with our plans for the day, so too do we need to ensure we have the appropriate spiritual clothing on each morning. That involves choosing to live a righteous, holy life in the power of the Holy Spirit - one pleasing to the Lord.

God, remind me to clothe myself with your Holy Spirit’s power each morning when I wake up. I want to live a life that pleases you by trusting in your power to do so. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Throughout the Day: Whenever you change your clothes, ask yourself if you are still wearing your “new” clothes, or if you have fallen into habits from your former way of life.