Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
You were taught, with regard to 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.
My daily reading this morning was based on Ephesians 4, where the writer used an example from popular culture and talked about a 'makeover' - making a radical change in your physical appearance to show things aren't the same any more. In the same way, Paul teaches that Christians are called to make similar changes spiritually by 'putting off their old self'.
Paul's imagery of a spiritual makeover really challenged me today and I couldn't help reflecting on the different types of clothing that I have worn over the years. Different clothing for different situations, different jobs. Business suits - gardening overalls - a host of fancy dress costumes - jeans and tee-shirts - and of course a variety of uniforms! The challenge: if I had to pick one particular 'look', which one would represent the 'real' me?
Paul's writing is all about reclothing ourselves from the inside: to leave behind the futility and ignorance of the past, and live clothed in 'robes of white' before God.
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