Romans 13:14 - Putting On Christ.
Romans 13:14 (CEV) Let the Lord Jesus Christ
be as near to you as the clothes you wear.
Then you wont try to satisfy your selfish
desire.
Romans 13:14 (NLT) Instead, clothe yourself
with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And
dont let yourself think about ways to indulge
your evil desires.
COMMENTARY PEARL
I guess you could say that my dad was not
into clothes. For sixty-nine years, my mom made
the decisions on clothes purchases, and each day
she laid out what he would wear. When he died,
Mom encouraged family members to take the items
they could wear or wanted to have as keepsakes.
My niece Kelli was thrilled to choose a few of
her beloved grandpa's shirts. Several months
later, Kelli arrived in the red-and-green plaid
flannel shirt that Daddy always wore during our
Christmas gathering. What a sweet reminder that
although our loved one was not with us physically,
his spirit remained in our hearts and our
memories.
I've never wanted anyone to choose my
clothes for me in the morning, but I will admit to
sometimes needing help with how to "dress up my
spirit. That's why the Bible reminds me to clothe
myself with Christ each day. To deliberately model
His character traits of kindness, forgiveness,
gentleness, mercy, and sacrificial love. To choose to
imitate Him instead of wearing my sinful tendencies
like pride, resentment, and self-centeredness.
If I want to model Jesus, I need to spend
time with Him every day - staying in close
personal fellowship through prayer and the Word,
studying what the Bible says about Him, meditating on
His teachings, and observing how He treated
people. Then I'll be more careful to "dress" in a
way that reflects the One Whose Spirit lives in
me (Romans 8:9). by Dianne Neal Matthews
Faith Step: Thinking about your day
ahead, focus on one character trait of Jesus that
you need to imitate in your activities and
interactions with others. Then consider what you need to
take off in order to live that out. [Mornings
With Jesus 2019 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
The word that is translated "put on" is
the same that is used in regard to putting on
clothes. We have "put on the new man" (Ephesians
4:24), and the new nature is like a garment that is
worn so that all can see who we are. Paul said
that the Christian, when he has confessed Christ
at baptism, has "put on Christ." Just as a man
may be recognized by the garment he wears, so
the Christian is known by the fact that he has
put on Christ and exhibits Him in his whole life
and character.
"Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ," not
just at conversion, but also on a daily basis. As
I put on my clothes each day and am seen in
them, so the Christian must daily put on the Lord
Jesus, so that he no longer lives to fulfill the
lusts of the flesh, but shows forth the image of
his Lord and the new man formed in His
likeness.
Put on Christ! This work must be done
each day in the inner chamber. I must put on the
Lord, the heavenly Jesus. But I need time to put
on Christ. Just as my garments cover me and
protect me from the wind and the sun, even so Christ
Jesus will be my beauty, my defense, and my joy.
As I commune with Him in prayer, He imparts
Himself to me and strengthens me to walk as one who
is in Him and is bound to Him forever.
Reader, take time to meditate on this
wonderful truth. Just as your clothing is a necessity
as you go out into the world, let it be equally
indispensable for you to put on Jesus Christ, to abide in
Him, and to walk with Him all day long.
This cannot be done hastily and
superficially. It takes time, quiet time in living
fellowship with Jesus, to realize that you have put Him
on. Take the time and the trouble. Your reward
will be great. [Andrew Murray 365-Day Devotional
Bible by Barbour re Galatians 3:27 and Romans
13:14]
CLOSING THOUGHT
We would be wise to learn to be more
concerned with what God thinks of us than what people
think of us. We live in times when people are
obsessed with their image, but God's Word tells us we
are to be transformed into the image of Christ
(see 2 Corinthians 3:18).
God sees our heart, but people merely see
the outer man. No matter how attractive we try
to make ourselves look, or what our level of
success is in this world, the only thing that really
matters is for us to develop godly character so we
may glorify Him.
Father, help me always know what is
really important! Help me strive to develop good
character more than I strive for an image that will
impress people. [My Time with God by Joyce Meyer]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160520-1729.html
EXCELLENT VIDEO SERIES ON 28 REVELATIONS OF
JESUS
1st of 28: Divine Dining:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_7j1QIKqmY
2nd of 28: Pictures of the Divine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lNI-OQ7-eQ
3rd of 28: A Dirty Bible:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMkPvBuuFd4
4th of 28: Cared For:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztXyJVdcCds
5th of 28: Saved:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX45kGRe1HI
6th of 28: You Can Change:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0gkvK18fo
7th of 28: Reprogramming Our Brains:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov36f_RapXc
8th of 28 Our Holy Father:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XabXLEXsxbY
9th of 28 Gifts of Service:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtuGZviodkA
10th of 28 The Holy Spirit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in89XVs4cGo
11th of 28 The Law of God:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Q601HjogI
12th of 28 The Sabbath:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sakgnKoTzZI
13th of 28 The Church:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkFw2XsTW-w
14th of 28 The Gift of Prophecy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiO2VC09NPI
15th of 28 Stewardship:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z_lNLAataw
16th of 28 Marriage and the Family:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EybxvMQ0K7E
Live ongoing series in progress.
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
