NEW LIFE, NEW CLOTHES!
When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He instructed his family and friends to help him out of his graveclothes. Surely the clothes must have smelled of death just as Martha had warned, for Lazarus had been dead for four days. The dead man Lazarus was raised to life by the call of Jesus, saying “Lazarus, come forth!” Now, Lazarus was like a new man. And a new man needs new clothes. But first, he must be loosed from the old ones.
The apostle Paul wrote, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” (Eph. 4:21-22, 24).
When we are born again, we must put off the old graveclothes of our former lives and put on the new clothes of the new nature. This is an action taken in the power of the Holy Spirit. Yet, just as Lazarus needed help to get out of his graveclothes, so we need the fellowship of believers to help us with ours. After all, isn’t it our family and friends that let us know when we stink? And as the proverb says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Prov. 27:17).
So, get out of those stinky graveclothes of your old life and be clothed in Christ’s new clothes of righteousness.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You that Christ Jesus has called us to new life. Strengthen us by Your Spirit to put off the old life and to put on the new today. Reveal our hearts to us that we might put off anything that isn’t according to our new life in Christ. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit that we might walk in the newness of life. In Jesus’ name, amen.