“Don’t Put Off What You Should Be Putting On”
The Bible has a lot to say to the Christian about “putting off” and “putting on.” The abundant life in Christ (John 10:10) is an exchanged life of “putting off” the old and “putting on” the new (Colossians 3:1-17). For example, you are to put off the weight and sin that so easily entangles and to put on Christ. Romans 13:14 tells you specifically to: “… put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”
Therefore, you are to put off any confidence you might have in the flesh and follow the admonition in Colossians 3:12 to “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” You are to put off your carnal weapons for waging war in exchange for the spiritual armor God supplies to his children for the battles you must face in this life (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). You are now privileged in Christ to be a partaker of the divine nature and a daily transformation should be taking place. The Apostle Peter says, “…He (meaning Jesus) has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” (2 Peter 1:4)
Given the above considerations and the Christian’s tendency to “put off” intentionally the doing of something that should be done, God gives you this admonition: “Don’t Put Off What You Should Be Putting On.” Like Joshua said to the sons of Israel, "How long will you put off entering to take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?” (Joshua 18:3) Brothers and sisters, you must go all the way with Christ. After all, HE went all the way for you! So, “Are you taking possession of the land the Lord has given you or are you procrastinating?” “Are you simply a reformed life or transformed life?” There are great possessions and riches in the land waiting for you if you “Don’t Put Off What You Should Be Putting On.”
To expound upon this truth, the Apostle Paul puts “shoe leather” to God’s Word and tells you how to do this in Ephesians 4:28-32: “28. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. 29. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
Putting off what you should be putting in the Christian life has serious implications for you, the church and the lost. When Christians don’t completely “put off” the grave clothes of the old life and “put on” the new righteous robes of Christ, the image people outside the kingdom of God get of Christianity and the Christian life becomes blurred and distorted. Your life looses its salt and capability of creating a thirst and hunger for Christ in others. However, when the life of Christ flows out of the overflow of your life in word and deed, the life of Christ comes into clear focus creating a hunger and thirst for righteousness. Therefore, the Bible concludes it is of critical importance you not put off what you should be putting on in YOUR WORK, YOUR WORDS AND YOUR WALK. The Apostle Paul clearly outlines this for you in the above passage of Scripture.
First, DON’T PUT OFF WHAT YOU SHOULD BE PUTTING ON IN YOUR WORK. The Apostle Paul says in verse 28, “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” Stealing robs you of your real worth. The very purpose for getting becomes giving when you live in the abundant life. The word “labor” in verse 28 means to exert oneself to the point of exhaustion. Paul says you should work hard so you are in a position to meet the needs of others. Paul did this in both word and deed and told the churches at Ephesus: “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35). Likewise, Paul emphasized this truth to the churches at Galatia: “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” (Galatians 6:10)
Paul also exhorted young pastor Titus, “This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men…Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.” (Titus 3:8, 14) Brother and sisters, it is not enough to simply cease or “put off” stealing or the sinful behaviors of your past. Don’t be content simply with living a reformed life when a transformed life awaits you. A “conformity to the image of God’s Son” should be taking place in your life on a daily basis – you should be performing with your own hands what is good, so that you not only meet the needs of your family but also so you have something to share with one who has need. This is the purpose for your work – to meet needs. Do not put off what you should be putting on in your work or else your life will be unfruitful. Apply yourself to good deeds! Remember, God loves a cheerful giver.
Second, DON’T PUT OFF WHAT YOU SHOULD BE PUTTING ON IN YOUR WORDS. The Apostle Paul says in verses 28-30, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Just as you are saved by grace, you are to serve God and man in a way that manifest grace. “No unwholesome word” means “insipid” or lacking “the salt of grace.” Thus, your words must be seasoned with salt. Paul told the churches at Colossae, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” (Colossians 4:6)
It has been said, “The fastest horse cannot catch a word spoken in anger.” Brothers and sisters don’t be content you don’t curse anymore or cut people down with your words as you may have in the past. Don’t stop short in communicating with reformed words – God wants to transform the way you use your words so they touch the lives of others. Your words when yielded for God’s purposes are a powerful tool for the kingdom of God. The writer of Hebrews warns, “But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 10:24) The writer of Hebrews implies failure to use your words to build others up can cause you to be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Therefore, your words must edify others and not tear them down. The writer of Proverbs says, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.” (Proverbs 25:11)
The impetus behind the “Prayerneed Internet Ministry” [prayerneed@hotmail.com] and, especially, “The Burnt Offering” daily devotional is to the opportunity for members of the Body of Christ to encourage others in both words and deeds. Email addresses and sometime mailing addresses of people are listed in the daily distributions for this purpose. You may be the one God has chosen through your spoken and written word to comfort, encourage, and strengthen some one else in their time of need. “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” (Romans 14:19) Do not put off what you should be putting on in your words. Someone needs to benefit in the Lord from your words today.
Finally, DON’T PUT OFF WHAT YOU SHOULD BE PUTTING ON IN YOUR WALK. The Apostle Paul says in verses 30-32, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Brothers and sisters, your motive for what you do must be right in the eyes of God. This is your walk with God – this is what God sees when no one else does. God knows your heart and knows if your walk is blameless and your motive pure in both your words and your work. John 2:24-25 says Jesus knows the hearts of all men: “But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”
Therefore, your desire must be to please God and not to grieve him. Perhaps the most amazing truth about God’s forgiveness is that He knows your heart and your motives for what you do and He still loves you even when your motives grieve Him. His heart toward you is still one of love, kindness, forgiveness and mercy forever and ever. You should have the same heart toward others as God in Christ has toward you. The great love chapter tells you “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
The Greek tense for “forgave you” in verse 32 makes this clear. It means God has, once for all, forgiven your sins in Christ, as a past historical fact. Likewise, the tense of the word “sealed” in verse 30 means the sealing you have from The Holy Spirit is done once for all time. The Lord’s seal will not be broken. The Bible says, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39) The Lord’s completed WORK at Calvary proves it, His WORDS of life seal this and His WALK with you daily assures it.
If you desire to be disciples, the love of Christ must hold the reins to your work, your words and your walk. Don’t put off what you should be putting on! Jesus paid it all, all to Him you owe. Give Him the Glory!
