Summer of Depth Devotional Day 26

Welcome to Day 26 of our Summer of Depth Devotional and Reading Plan.

If you’re like most of us out there, every day, we make decisions about what we're going to wear.

Some choices are practical. Others reflect who we are, our style or interests, or even what we're doing that day. Usually thought, without thinking too much about it, we put something on before we walk out the door.

Paul says our spiritual lives work in a similar way.

Let’s take a deeper and slower look together as we enter into His Word now.

Before anything else, slow down and read: Colossians 3:1–17.

Right away, Paul reminds us that our spiritual lives are now secure with Christ (Paul uses the imagery of being “hidden”). In other words, because we are wrapped completely in the love and grace of Jesus, our new identity in Christ AND our eternal lives are guarded by God himself.

Paul goes on to give us another picture. He tells us to take off the old way of living and put on the “new.”

Then he get practical! He starts naming what that new life looks like: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and above all, love.

Now let’s be clear…These aren't merely personality traits reserved for especially mature Christians. They're the natural and apparent clothing of people whose lives have been changed by Jesus.

This becomes an opportunity for us…but one that takes effort. The challenge is that we often reach for the old wardrobe without realizing it. Pride feels easier to put on than humility. Bitterness feels more justified than forgiveness. Harsh words sometimes feel like they would “fit” better than kindness.

But Paul reminds us that those clothes no longer fit who we are.

Instead, he points us back to Christ. Let His peace rule in your heart. Let His Word dwell in you richly. The more our hearts are filled with Him, the more our lives begin to reflect Him.

As we've been slowing down together this summer, consider this: part of that slower pace is becoming more aware of being more like Jesus. So this evening and into tomorrow, pay attention to what we're putting on. When we make space to be with Jesus, His character begins to shape ours…his clothes start to become our clothes, his style becomes our style. And who wouldn’t want to be lookin’ like Jesus ;)

Prayer:

Father, thank You for making me new in Christ. Today, help me put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love. May my words and actions reflect You in everything I do. In Jesus' name, amen.