Dryer lint- it's amazing stuff... it's never ending and it accumulates so quickly especially when I do a load of towels or blankets. Faithfully I clean the lint trap and I encourage my girls to do the same. Recently I was informed that the trap isn't the only place that lint accumulates, it accumulates in the dryer casing and in the dryer hose which over time creates a major fire hazard. The hose takes a little effort but it can be fairly easily cleaned. The dryer body is a completely different matter. Of course I haven't any idea how to get in there to clean it out, the lint is hidden, unreachable so I tend to forget about it. Putting off cleaning is pretty easy because the lint is out of sight but it still exists... so does the danger.
As I pondered dryer lint (strange as that is), I saw a correlation to sin in my life; sin is never ending and it temptations, pitfalls, residue accumulates quickly in my heart. The obvious sins I try to keep on short account with God... you know those everyday ones we know are a problem and everyone around us know are an issue- those are my lint trap sins. These sins are visible and fairly easy to find out. It can be tempting to stop there and feel that I have dealt with my sin but like lint, there are hidden sins that accumulate in the recesses of my heart. While these sins aren't so easy to identify, they are in there growing and gaining ground in my heart creating a fire hazard. One day those sins will consume me if I do not take the time to do the hard thing and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal them to me then enable me to truly repent, put off those sins and put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14).
God will wash us thoroughly if we will only but fall at His feet in humble repentance. I praise God for the cross of Jesus Christ and the blood that was shed for my sins. I praise God for the victory won there. If I confess my sins God is faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me from ALL unrighteousness (I John 1:9) Alleluia, Amen!
My prayer is this Lord:
"Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." Psalm 51:2
Showing posts with label put on. Show all posts
Showing posts with label put on. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Put off, Put on - Sanctification in Action
In seeking to replace sinful habits and patterns, we must look to the word of God to find the biblical antidote. God's word is living and powerful or active (Hebrews 4:12); it is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, for instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16).
Studying scripture's admonition to put off and put on is a great exercise. With that in mind, I would like to share what I gleaned from my own study. Below each passage is listed along with what we are to actively put off and what we are to actively put on instead.
1) Ephesians 4:25: Put off lying; put on speaking the truth
2) Eph. 4:26-27: Put off holding a grudge; put on forgiveness- be angry and do not sin
3) Eph. 4:28: Put off stealing; put on hard work with your own hands, share with the needy
4) Eph. 4:29: Put off corrupt words; put on edifying words that impart grace
5) Eph. 4:31-32: Put off bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking; put on kindness, be tenderhearted and forgiving
6) Eph. 5:4: Put off filthiness, foolish talking, coarse jesting; put on giving thanks
7) Eph. 5:11: Put off fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; put on exposing the unfruitful works of darkness
8) Eph. 5:18: Put off being drunk with wine; put on being filled with the Holy Spirit
9) Phil. 4:6: Put off anxiety; put on an attitude of prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
10) Col. 3: 8,12-14: Put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language; put on tender mercies, kindness humility, longsuffering, meekness, forbearance, forgiveness, love
11) Romans 13:12-14:Put off the works of darkness, revelry, drunkenness, lewdness, lust, envy, strife, provisions for the flesh; put on the Lord Jesus, walk properly
As I look over this list I see that every area of my life is revealed... my speech, my thoughts, my actions, my attitudes, my habits. I also see that sin in so pervasive that I must be on guard at all times, actively putting off and putting on while fully relying on God through prayer. But the key to every put on is the last one... put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us strive to have the mind of Christ in everything we do and say and think; He will enable us to put off and put on.
Studying scripture's admonition to put off and put on is a great exercise. With that in mind, I would like to share what I gleaned from my own study. Below each passage is listed along with what we are to actively put off and what we are to actively put on instead.
1) Ephesians 4:25: Put off lying; put on speaking the truth
2) Eph. 4:26-27: Put off holding a grudge; put on forgiveness- be angry and do not sin
3) Eph. 4:28: Put off stealing; put on hard work with your own hands, share with the needy
4) Eph. 4:29: Put off corrupt words; put on edifying words that impart grace
5) Eph. 4:31-32: Put off bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking; put on kindness, be tenderhearted and forgiving
6) Eph. 5:4: Put off filthiness, foolish talking, coarse jesting; put on giving thanks
7) Eph. 5:11: Put off fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; put on exposing the unfruitful works of darkness
8) Eph. 5:18: Put off being drunk with wine; put on being filled with the Holy Spirit
9) Phil. 4:6: Put off anxiety; put on an attitude of prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
10) Col. 3: 8,12-14: Put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language; put on tender mercies, kindness humility, longsuffering, meekness, forbearance, forgiveness, love
11) Romans 13:12-14:Put off the works of darkness, revelry, drunkenness, lewdness, lust, envy, strife, provisions for the flesh; put on the Lord Jesus, walk properly
As I look over this list I see that every area of my life is revealed... my speech, my thoughts, my actions, my attitudes, my habits. I also see that sin in so pervasive that I must be on guard at all times, actively putting off and putting on while fully relying on God through prayer. But the key to every put on is the last one... put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us strive to have the mind of Christ in everything we do and say and think; He will enable us to put off and put on.
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