Put On New Clothes

In Romans 13:14, Paul writes "rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think how to gratify the desires of the flesh".

Putting on clean clothes involves deliberate activity.

We will need a daily intake of biblical truth. The children’s chorus reminded us: ‘Read your Bible, pray every day, if you want to grow . . . ’ We have to do this in order to meet with God and see Jesus in his Word. It is as we gaze at Christ, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, that we will begin to become like him. Reading the Bible clarifies my identity and self-understanding. It gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to shape me in the likeness of Christ. It also reinforces my determination not to return to the world.

We will need to cultivate a healthy life of prayer. The Bible commands us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). In Psalm 27:4, David describes prayer as dwelling in God’s presence, gazing on God’s beauty and seeking God’s help. It is not just working through a list of requests but having fellowship with God. Prayer can be hard work, but it is absolutely vital to spiritual health.

We will need the encouragement of the local church. Christian fellowship is the context in which Christian faith grows and reaches maturity. In the family of the church, I come to be shaped by common family values and am armed to go into the world and make Jesus visible, intelligible and desirable. We cannot survive for long without the regular fellowship we find among God’s people. At IVP we publish books and resources to help you walk closely with Jesus and understand the Bible Better.

Below you'll find a few things that could help you get a daily intake of biblical truth, cultivate a healthy life of prayer, and think about being involved in a local church.