To Do-ers List Bible Study: Back to School, New Clothes
They are everywhere. Adults love them. Children fear them. You can’t turn on the TV or the radio or pick up a newspaper lately without seeing or hearing about them. Back to School Sales. It’s time to get some new clothes.
Back to School Sales
As an omen of the coming season, I always dreaded seeing the first back to school advertisement. They seemed to come earlier and earlier with every passing year (sort of like Christmas advertising). While I dreaded going back to school, I did look forward to back-to-school shopping. New crayons. New notebooks. New shoes. New clothes. The worn dirty clothes of summer were replaced by crisp new school clothes. Out with the old and in with the new.
New Clothes
When we become Christians, Jesus also provides us with new clothes. We trade in our filthy rags for robes of righteousness. A new outfit makes us feel better, look better, and act better. New clothes – new man. That’s exactly what the Bible says. We put on our new clothes, and then we need to put on a new man.
Put Off/Put On
” … see that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another…
… 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:22-24, 29-32
Below is a list of a few things we are to put off/put on.
| Old Clothes (Put Off) | New Clothes (Put On) |
| 1. lying | 1. speaking truth |
| 2. anger | 2. forgiveness |
| 3. stealing | 3. giving |
| 4. corrupt words | 4. encouraging words |
| 5. bitterness | 5. kindness |
You may have other items to add to the list.
Go up to the list and mentally circle or write down on your notes or prayer app one or two things you need to do today. Like baskets of laundry, we have some things we need to “put away” and some things we need to “put on.”
For today:
Choose one verse from above to do today. Pray and ask God to help you put off the old clothes of the old man and put on the new clothes of the new man. As you wear you new clothes, the Holy Spirit will transform you so that you feel better, act better, and live better. Write down on a note card the portion of scripture you’re going to work on today. Look for opportunities to forgive, speak truth, encourage, and give to others.
Resources:
To help you organize your daily study and record your experiences, please download and print the following PDF, or download the journal app to your favorite Apple device.
- To Do-ers List Study Guide PDF
- Days Lite: My Wonderful Life App free app from App Store.
Don’t forget to comment on your experience in the comment section below! Choose your verse/s for today and be a doer of the Word.
School is in session. Put on your new clothes!
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In order to speak life out, I must let God speak life in. My words will affect everyone who hear them – not just the ones my words are directed to. Since I hear them as well, my words affect me. When I become a doer of the word, I encourage others to become doers as well. Thank you God for all you showed me today!
I will be working on verse 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. I want to be aware of the words that I am speaking today. I really like the part about imparting grace to the hearers. That is what I should be doing with my words. Even if I need to have a difficult conversation with someone, I can do it in a way that imparts grace rather than tearing down. I will need the Holy Spirit’s help on this one!
I chose the last two verses, about letting go of all bitterness & anger. I think it’s easy for us to hold on to things that have hurt us in the past (even things that have happened a while ago!) but the Bible says to forgive others like Christ forgave us. I think that helps put things into perspective!
It’s funny how easily we remember the hurtful things and how quickly we forget the wonderful things others do for us!
I would add worry to the old and FAITH to the new! I’m working on this everyday! I love this study!
Worry has always been a hard one for me to shake, Susan!