SPIRITUAL REUPHOLSTERING

Ephesians 4:17-24
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

When my wife and I bought a home 5 years ago, the former owner was in a hurry to hit the road. For whatever reason, he left us six attractive dining room chairs. We appreciated the unexpected gift and have used them often while entertaining guests.

Now that we have moved into a new home, these treasured chairs need a makeover to fit into the new color scheme. We needed the help of a competent upholsterer. Over the phone I asked him, "Couldn't you just put the new material over the chair?" He responded, "No, that wouldn't work. You will ruin the shape of the chair if you put new material over it." A good upholsterer insists on tearing the chair down to its fundamentals and putting on new material.

That reminds me of the work of God in our spiritual growth. He isn't interested in taking our human efforts and improving on them--in covering them over. The old sin nature actually has the ability to perform religious activity, but that isn't the work of the Holy Spirit (Romans 10:1-3). Instead, God intends to replace our character with what's called "the new man."

Paul understood the replacement principle in becoming like Jesus. His wording sounds like putting on new clothes. "Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24). As we exchange our old attitudes, thoughts, speech, and behavior for that of Jesus-life, we find an amazing exchange taking place (Isaiah 40:31).

Inside each of us is the drive to "be good enough" in our own strength. Instead, God wants to reupholster us with the new man, made in the image of Him who designed it--Jesus Himself. We do this by laying aside our old behaviors and yielding our hearts to the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18). Let's put on the new self. --Dennis Fisher

DESTINATION POINTS

* What speech or behavior do I need to "put off"?
* What godly behavior would I like to "put on" in its place? Why is progress more important than perfection in doing this?

LINKS:
Transformed Lives
http://www.discoveryseries.org/hp901

bottom line: Put off the old--put on the new.

soul journey