Colossians 3
By Pastor Brad
Comfy Shirt
I have a comfy shirt. When I arrive home for the day, one of the first things I do is change my clothes and put on my comfy shirt. It’s my favorite, a white sleeveless T-shirt that’s soft, roomy and doesn’t cling. It wears easy. Probably because it’s been through the washing machine a couple hundred times. There are a few holes in it from extended wear. One in particular is large enough to stick my hand through it, which comes in handy when I need to retrieve my keys out of my pants pocket. There are also hundreds of tiny droplets of wood stain all over the shirt from when I brushed it on my fence, three years ago. My wife, Alaina, says that I should throw it away. Can you believe her? Did I mention that I have two very similar shirts?
As I was reading Colossians chapter 3, I came across a verse that I hadn’t noticed before. I had to read it in three different translations just to get the full meaning. In the King James Version verse 9 says it this way, “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.” And in the NIV it reads, “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.” And finally in The Message you’ll hear, “Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire.”
There’s a problem. I like my shirt. I know that it’s probably time to let it go and move on to another, but it has taken so long to get it just the way I like it. I watch television in that shirt, I sometimes mow the lawn in it, why I’m even wearing it right now as I type this devotional. I’m not getting rid of the shirt! However, I will change my shirt if I need to run to the store. Seriously, give me some credit.
I’m reminded of the command from Jesus about the cost of being a disciple. He said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Notice the word daily here.
Jesus himself did the uncomfortable. He had to remove his divine power daily so that he would be totally dependant on the Father and the Holy Spirit. It would have been easier I’m sure for Jesus to have gone through his ministry in his own power, he could have, He’s God! Instead, he chose to become a living example for us by humbling himself and taking on the very nature of a servant. So when Jesus instructs us to take up our cross and deny ourselves he’s telling us to take off the comfy shirt and put on the new clothes which can be very difficult to wear at times. They are the clothes of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And don’t forget to bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
Daily I must remove or put off the old self and put on the new man. Be encouraged, if it was easy, Christ would not have needed to come and show us the way.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.
Do you have a “comfy shirt”? Exchange it for a new wardrobe that has been custom-made for you by the Master Designer. Click here to read Colossians chapter 3