Bible Reading: Colossians 3
I became a biological father for the first time over three years ago.
My fathering journey has clearly shown me that there are the very priceless, exciting and fulfilling parts of the journey, and there are also the ‘this-is-real-life’ parts that you grow up to love. It’s good to keep a healthy expectation- fathering a child is not just about snapping pictures and having new DPs; it’s also about swapping pampers and buying new diapers. (Yes, I know pampers is a make of diapers- just needed to create the wordplay effect)
It’s always so beautiful to see a child who was thoroughly messed up go through this transformational, renewing process. (Mum comes in,) Take off the old; Put on the new. And then suddenly, smelliness is replaced by sweetness. Because this child is so valuable, you stay in the process of taking off the old and putting on the new. You never just leave the child in the wrench and stench of the old. You never get tired of fighting and staying in the process that reveals the beauty and preciousness of your child.
You don’t just throw the new on the old, and you don’t just pull off the old without putting on the new.
Old diapers, old clothes get stripped off; the new ones get put on.
When that picture comes real, I think it’s that same process that we’ll see Paul is demonstrating to the Colossians as we read through our text today- the beautiful renewing process of taking off the old and putting on the new.
You don’t just throw the new on the old, and you don’t just pull off the old without putting on the new.
This is the story of the Christian life- it’s a taking off and a putting on.
This is how to stay healthy and not get contaminated- we must learn to put off thoughts and habits and ways that rub off on us through our interactions with the world and put on the new we pick up from God’s word.
This is the discovery of growth. It is in not getting tired or weary of taking off and putting on.
This is how we stay fresh and rejuvenated; this is how we keep our cutting edge sharp and our passion alive. We constantly put off the dullness and discouragement that the world supplies, and put on a fresh attitude of purpose and tenacity that God gives.
We can’t leave things to chance. We can’t ever afford to be too fixed to unlearn things. And we can’t afford to be too proud to relearn things.
Just like in the natural, we can’t afford to get too familiar with the bathroom that we start to take it for granted and miss its moments, or go in without allowing it to really touch us (how was your harmattan? lol) I also believe that as Christians, we must never get too familiar with the very basics of constant Christian renewal- ‘just’ being in church, ‘just’ reading God’s word, ‘just’ getting to pray, ‘just’ plugging our ears and listening to Christian content, and so on.
As we take these days to wait on God, really let the Holy Spirit lead you in this renewal process again. Let him strip off, and reclothe you. Don’t make light of the things God starts to speak to challenge you and speak to you about in these seasons.
Off. On. May you truly discover the power of God renewals.
Tolulope Moody
Make a commitment in prayer to set your sight (desires, affections and pursuit) on the realities of heaven.
SOMETHING TO PRAY
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1 NIV