Stepping Forward

Day 25
Put on the New Self
Read: Ephesians 4:20-24
But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
Insight
The Apostle Paul was adamant about setting aside the old self and putting on the new self. The old self carries with it bondage, sorrow, sin, and futility, but the new self is free, has a purpose, and is influenced and shaped by God. The Christen has no reason to continue to walk according to the old life, because the Christian is a new creation able to hear God and walk with Him (2 Cor. 5:17).
The Christian must see that the old life is no longer in control. It died the moment we went to the cross. The moment we received Jesus as Savior is the very moment the sin nature, the old man, was crucified. Therefore, we must lay it aside and convince ourselves that it is no longer in control. Think of the old self as a jacket that we take off and hang in the closet. Once it’s in the closet, don’t go back and put it on again.
Now that the old self is in the hall closet, we ought to put on the new self. When we died with Christ, we were also raised with Him, which means the person raised is the new self. The problem we face is that this new self tends to be drowned out by the old self, which is calling for its place back in our life. That is why we must have a renewing of the mind. When our mind begins to be renewed, we are able to walk more effectively in the new self.
To have a renewing of the mind, we must seek those things above. Jesus is seated above, at the right hand of God. When we seek Him, we begin to seek those things that are holy. When we seek Him, we begin to turn away from the sin that had its claws burrowed deep into our back. When we seek Jesus, we find life, meaning, purpose, and righteousness.
When our mind is being flooded with God’s Word and we are in prayer often, our mind starts to transform (Rom. 12:2). As it is being renewed and transformed, we are able to walk in the new self more successfully. Consequently, we are able to grow in spiritual maturity, because this new self is molded and shaped by God.
Let’s put on the new self by renewing our minds. As Christians we are able to walk in a new life because we have died with Christ and been raised with Him (Rom. 6). Let us leave the old self, which was rendered powerless at the cross, in the hall closet. By God’s power and grace, we can grow in our relationship with Him now that He has made us alive. Praise God for His grace!
Challenge
In order for our new self to become strong, we must have the right mind-set and the right diet. As we seek Jesus and set our minds on things above, our new self will begin to flourish. God’s Word is exactly what our new self needs on a regular basis; and when we train our minds to think upon God’s Word, we shall have a new self that is grounded and unmovable.
How often are you feeding on God’s holy Word? What do you set your mind on? Whatever we put into our mind is what we will think upon. When God’s Word becomes the dominating factor, we shall think upon those things that are holy. When we place those things that are evil in our mind, we will think primarily on those things. We must have a renewing of the mind, and it starts and ends in God’s mighty Word.