Connected in The Word 7-30-25
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you… (examples of sins that stir of the wrath of God). …Seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Colossians 3:5a, 9-10
I don’t think much about the clothing I “put on” each day. What I “put on” in the morning has never been very high on my priority list (don’t worry, I do put on something every day). However, occasionally there are times when others in my house have suggested I “put off” what I chose to wear, and “put on” something different. It’s good to have people in your life that are willing to tell you that what you “put on” doesn’t look good on you.
When I walk back to my closet, I am a little overwhelmed with all the choices I have. I don’t have that many clothes, but there are still choices to be made about what to “put on” for the day. Every day I face choices about what to “put on” that have nothing to do with shirts, pants, and ties. Life is full of choices. We all have closets full of attitudes, thoughts, behaviors, and words that we can choose to “put on” each day. I can choose to “put on” things that glorify God and help those around me, or I can choose to “put on” things that anger God and hurt those around me. It is once again good to have people in your life that are willing to tell you that what you “put on” doesn’t look good on you.
As a Lutheran Pastor, I don’t ascribe to “decision theology”. I came into this world dead in my sin with no ability to “put on” or “choose” Christ. Instead, I trust what the Scriptures say so beautifully – GOD IN CHRIST CHOSE ME! But now that the biggest choice has already been made (BY GOD) to redeem me and make me His child, I am free to make LOTS OF OTHER CHOICES every day. I can choose to love or to hate. I can choose to rejoice in God’s Gifts or reject God’s Gifts. The attitudes, thoughts, behaviors, and words I “put on” each day can glorify God or anger God, and they can help my neighbor or hurt my neighbor. So, please – Make Good Choices Today but never forget that God First Chose You!