FRIDAY January 3, 2025
Putting Off the Old Man
But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds....
Colossians 3:8-9
Paul explained the terminology of putting off the old man as if taking off an old garment. When you take off the filthy garment of sin, you replace it with a new, clean garment of righteousness––the new man. This is what is meant in the Greek language––literally taking off filthy clothes and putting on new clothes.
Let us take a closer look at the sinful behaviors that reflect the old man with his deeds. The first one mentioned is anger. Is there anyone reading this devotional that has a problem with anger? Have you ever felt a deep and burning anger inside of you that is ready to explode? You try to keep it in, but you just blow up! Instead of anger, put on forgiveness.
Wrath, on the other hand, is like a flaming fire. It manifests itself when you want to get even with someone, and you act upon those emotions physically or verbally. Instead of wrath, give it to the Lord and keep quiet. Malice constitutes speaking evil of another person; you literally have no respect for them. As Christians, we are to love people and build them up.
Blasphemy is the act of showing contempt or lack of reverence for God. This happens when people use God’s name in vain or mock God. We need to cherish the name of Jesus! In your past, you may have used filthy, obscene language. Are you still telling dirty jokes or swearing? Christians are to have a new language: Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers (Ephesians 4:29).
As God's children, we have a new life, a new mind, a new speech, and a clean heart.
Man is born with his face turned away from God. When he truly repents, he is turned right round toward God; he leaves his old life.
~D.L. Moody~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!
