Your child came home after playing in the playground. The clothes are smeared with mud, dirt, blades of grass, and unidentified marks. You ask the child to take off the clothes, get a shower, and put on clean clothes. Your child refused to do it. How do you help him / her to change her mind?
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph 4:22-24)
As Christians, we are told to put off the old self and to put on the new self. We are not to continue with the old self. We have to give up the old habits, old mindset, old value system, etc.
Sometimes, like your child, we refused to do so. These are some of the possible reasons.
- I’m too tired / lazy, I’ll do it tomorrow. (This is not the right time. Later.)
- It’s still clean. (Refused to acknowledge their problems)
- I don’t like the new clothes. (I do not want to be restricted.)
- Peer pressure. (My friend did not change their clothes, why should I?)
- Don’t tell me what to do! (Ego.)
We can find all kinds of excuses. However, until and unless we take off the old clothes (old self) and put on the new clothes (the new self), we cannot be close to God. And we will not be able to life the life God intended for us.
What’s your excuse?
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