Romans 13:14 – But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
On sacred days and moments of our lives, we take off one set of clothes and we put another on.
For example, at a graduation ceremony, they don’t dress like they do every day of school. They put on something new – a gown, cap, and tassel. It’s their way of declaring that their life changes, that the person they were is not the person they are, and they’re graduating into a new season of life.
The same thing happens when you get married. You dress yourself every day but, on your wedding day, you wear something special. Especially if you’re a female. What I know from having daughters is that there are entire years of a girl’s life dedicated to finding their wedding dress. There’s even a show called Say Yes to the Dress. I have watched thousands of hours of this show because my daughter loves this show.
It’s the most predictable show I’ve ever seen. There’s no plot twist. Girls go into the store, one girl tries on a lot of dresses, and they all cry when she finds the right one. But what the gal is saying is that today, when I put on this dress, everything changes. I was single and now I’m married. I’m putting on something new and now I’m going to live a new life.
The same thing happens for a police officer, soldier, or firefighter when they put on a uniform.
The same thing happens when we become a Christian and happens throughout our relationship with Jesus. What do you need to take off, from the flesh, and what do you need to put on, from the Spirit?
What relationships in the flesh do you need to take off and what relationships in the Spirit do you need to put on?
What habits in the flesh do you need to take off and what habits in the Spirit do you need to put on?
What responses have you had in the flesh that you need to take off and what responses in the Spirit do you need to put on?
What expenses have you had in the flesh that you need to take off and what financial stewardship in the Spirit do you need to put on?
Ask yourself: Who am I in the flesh and who does God want me to be in the Spirit? Talk to God about what needs to be taken off and invite in the Holy Spirit to replace it with a new identity in Christ.
To find the free Romans 12-16 digital study guide for individuals and small groups, hear Pastor Mark’s entire sermon series on Romans, or find a free mountain of Bible teaching visit realfaith.com or download the Real Faith app.