But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof (Romans 13:14 KJV)

Paul exhorts the Roman Christians to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. He uses the metaphor of putting on your clothes and exhorts the believers to put on the Lord as they put on their clothes. What is the significance of the figure of putting on clothes in this verse?

Your clothes represent that which is outward and is visible to everyone else. When someone looks at you, your clothes stand out. Clothing, spiritually, in this sense, refers to the “outward man”, that is that part of us which is external as opposed to the invisible spirit. The outward man here does not mean the body as an impersonal biological entity. It includes the desires(lusts above), thoughts, emotions, actions as well as words. Putting on Jesus means Christ-like behavior and character or Christ-like manner of life.

In Galatians 3:27, we are told that everyone of us who was baptized into Christ( that united with Him at salvation) has already put on Christ. That is, as Christians, we have already put on Christ. So are we commanded to put on Christ or we have already put on Christ? The answer is both! It is the mystery of our nature as both spirit and flesh in this present life as I have been teaching. In spirit, that part of you that relates to God and is not perceptible using our natural senses, you are already Christ-like. However, in the flesh, meaning your earthly existence here in the body, which is the seat of your personal life, character, and behavior here and now, you have to put Him on. This is where spiritual transformation comes in, to bring what you are in spirit into the realm of the flesh.

MEDITATE

What kind of outer clothes are you putting on based on the devotional above?

APPLY THE WORD

Be transformed by the renewal of your mind. The Word of God is God’s agent of spiritual transformation. Keep feeding on it and let those beautiful garments you are putting on keep glowing.

PRAY

 Ask the Father to help you put on the right outward clothes!

Free Mini E-book: From Spiritual Dryness to Flourishing