Put On Love: On With the New
A New Way of Living
Do you remember the last time you put on an outfit that didn't fit right? The shirt felt too tight, the sleeves pinched, and something about it just didn't look or feel like "you." You see, in life, we often end up wearing things—emotions, behaviors, and thoughts—that don't fit who we truly are or who we're meant to be. Paul, the Apostle, had something profound to say about this.
The Metaphor of Clothing
In the letters to the Ephesians and Colossians, Paul draws a compelling metaphor using clothing to discuss our spiritual lives. The Greek words he uses speak volumes:
Apotithemai (Col. 3:8): This means to "take off clothes." Imagine taking off a heavy coat that's been weighing you down.
Apekduomai (Col.3:9): This also means to "take off clothes," signifying a shedding, a letting go of what was.
Enduo (Col.3:10): This is the act of "putting on" clothes, as you would put on a new outfit that represents your real identity.
Paul insists that our spiritual attire must suit our current state of being. The old has to go to make way for the new. After all, you wouldn't wear a winter coat to the beach, would you? And trust me, throwing on your "Jesus clothes" over your old ones won't do the trick; you'll just end up looking like the 'stay-puff-marshmallow-man.'
Context Matters: Ephesus, Colossae, and Theater Culture
Paul was writing to early Christians in Ephesus and Colossae—cities known for their theaters and religious practices. Ephesus worshiped Artemis, while Colossae and surrounding areas like Pergamum and Heiropolis had theaters dedicated to Dionysus, the god of wine and drama. These theaters were more than entertainment venues; they were temples, centers of cultural influence.
The Romans even had a pre-performance saying: "Let whatever is done in word or deed be done in the name of Dionysus." Sound familiar? Paul was using the same phrase in Colossians 3:17, except he flipped it to center around Jesus. He was telling them that they'd been acting, performing in clothes that didn't fit, roles that were far from their true selves.
So, How Do We Change Outfits?
Switching clothes isn't always as easy as it sounds, especially when we're talking about ingrained behaviors and emotional baggage. We all know what it's like to grapple with old habits that cling to our hearts. But remember the story of Lazarus? Jesus didn't just raise him from the dead; He also said, "Unbind him, and let him go." It's a call to shed our 'graveclothes,' the things holding us back.
C.S. Lewis once mentioned, "Be what you're not in order to become who you want to be." You can act your way into a new way of thinking far more easily than you can think your way into a new way of acting. So, what are the shirts you need to discard? Anger, malice, slander, filthy language? And which are the ones you need to put on? Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience?
In The End, It's All About Love
Paul's final note is a resounding echo of Jesus's teachings: above all, put on love. Imagine a community where each individual's spiritual attire perfectly aligns with their true identity. It's a lofty idea, but one worth striving for, don't you think?
If we support one another in shedding our old ways and putting on the new, we can look forward to a future of growth and transformation. It's a journey, but we're in it together.
So, are you ready to change outfits? Because, my friend, you were created to be loved, and the best way to show love is to be your authentic self. Let's help each other along the way, continually reminding ourselves of who we are in Christ. After all, you wouldn't wear winter clothes to the beach. Why carry old burdens that don't fit your new life?
Let's begin this transformative journey today, and let's do it together.
Matt Davis
is on the Board at Bringing Kingdom, married to his beautiful wife Marilee for more than two decades, and lives in the beautiful bluegrass of Lexington, Kentucky where they are raising three outstanding teenagers. Matt is a graduate of BIOLA University and Talbot School of Theology. After serving in a church for the past two decades as a Teaching and Executive Pastor, he started The Jewish Road with his dad, helping Christians know the roots of their faith and helping the Jewish people know Jesus.
