STRAIGHT FROM THE PULPIT
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Pastor Larry Gatlin, So. Oregon
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TO
PUT ON OR PUT OFF, THAT IS THE QUESTION
I remember when I was in elementary school
especially during the winter my Mom would call from the kitchen and ask, Larry
Gene, did you put on your heavy coat and boots? The reason she asked was because the coat
and boots that I had weren’t exactly the style I wanted to wear and I would
often leave the house wearing a lighter jacket and loafers. It didn’t matter
what I wore I always had to get dressed. That required me to put on whatever I
was going to wear. Sometimes I would leave home in the clothes that my Mom
thought was appropriate, but underneath my heavy coat I would wear the more
stylish clothes that I wanted to wear. Thus I kind of pleased every one. Until
Mom found me out. When I did this though, when I got to school I always had to
take the one set of clothes off; so before I left home I put it on. But when I
got to school I had to put something off.
In living for the Lord we often have to
make some serious choices about what we are going to put on and put off. In
Ephesians 4 Paul describes some things that we must put on and some that we
must put off. Let’s look at them.
Eph
4:17-5:1
17 So I
tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as
the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 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. 19 Having lost all
sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in
every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
20 You,
however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and
were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 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; 23 to be made new in the attitude
of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true
righteousness and holiness.
25
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his
neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 "In your anger do not
sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not
give the devil a foothold. 28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer,
but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have
something to share with those in need.
29 Do not
let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for
building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who
listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed
for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling
and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to
one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. NIV
#1.
We must put off our old selves. 2Cor. 5:17 & 18 tells us that we are NEW
CREATURES! The OLD MAN is passed away. All things are now NEW! With anew
attitude.
#2.
Put on the NEW MAN. Just as I had to make a choice about what I was going to
put on as a child, I now have to make decisions about what I will put on in my
life as a Believer. I have to make a clear choice to put on the NEW MAN every
day.
#3.
So, I too must make the choice to put off the OLD MAN! All of the baggage that
goes with the old man must be put off. So I have to choose to put off, anger,
bitterness, rage, brawling, and slander.
#4.
Likewise we must put on, kindness, compassion, love, forgiveness, and the NEW
MAN.
Every choice I make needs to be measured in
light of the New Man, versus The Old. The choice that I make will determine the
direction I take for that day and for my life.
So the question is, What will you put on, and what
will you put off? It is an extremely important question that we have to
make every day.
Pastor
Larry
