To Do-ers List: Back to School

Day 1: New Clothes

Welcome to Day One of To Do-ers List! We are praying for you and for the work that God will accomplish in you through this week of study. Let’s be Do-ers of His Word!

” … 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.

26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

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 4:22-32

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.

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. Bought by the blood of Jesus. Paid in full on the cross. A new outfit makes us feel better, look better, and act better. New clothes – new man. That’s exactly what the Bible says. When we put on our new clothes, we need to put on a new man.

Put Off/Put On.

Go back and read the scripture for today and make a mental note of what we are to put off/put on. Below is a list of a few things we are to put off/put on.

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 work on (one or two things you need to do!). 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 focus on today. Pray it forward 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, look better, and act 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.

School is in session. Put on your new clothes!

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