Orange Moon Cafe "Put On, Put Off"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe...

 

  "Put On, Put Off"

  

    "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" (Ephesians 4:28-29).

 

   Note the way in which born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are to overcome temptation.  We turn away from behaviors contrary to the will of God by turning to those in accordance with truth and righteousness.  Rather than steal, Paul calls believers to work and give.  Rather than speaking empty and harmful words, we use our tongue to benefit and build.  This principle applies to every challenge we face in walking with God.  We put off the old ways of our former days by putting on the character Christ that results in new ways in the present day.  "Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).

 

   Any time we face temptation, the issue involves not only sin to avoid.  The matter also concerns what we will omit of blessing and benefit if we succumb to devilish and fleshly enticement.  What prayers might we pray for others if we do not give in to carnal mindedness?  What encouragement will we bestow upon others if we do not allow ourselves to be cast down?  What might our hands do to bless if not used for lesser pursuits?  What gain for the glory of God and the blessing of others results when we put on our Lord and thereby put off the ways of the flesh?

    

This day will offer opportunities for grace that begin with temptations.  As we overcome by faith and submission to God, the Spirit of Christ brings into existence glories that would not have existed were it not for the challenges we faced.  This is the way of triumph in Christ, and the way whereby the light of God shines forth because we have put off by putting on.

 

"As ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness."

(Romans 6:19)

 

Weekly Memory Verse

      "Thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness."

(Nehemiah 9:17)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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