new shoes

In the past month or so both of my children have needed and were bought new shoes. The shoes fit and they like these shoes but it seems they forget to wear their new shoes. I don’t know if it is the habit of putting on their old shoes or what. We will be out doing errands and I will look down at my children’s feet and see shoes that almost have a hole in them and another that has no tread whatsoever. I ask them why they didn’t wear their new shoes and they either don’t have an answer or respond that they just forgot to put the new ones on. I was just thinking that God is probably like that with us. He is looking down at us and asking why don’t you have on that new self I gave you. (see Col 3:10) Why didn’t you clothe yourself in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience? (Col 3:120 My answer would most likely be the same as my children’s answer. I have no answer. I have no excuse.

Now the best way for me to get my children to wear their new shoes would be to throw their old ones away. Just as the best way for me to remember to put on the new self and all the accessories that go with it is to remember what Paul tells us in Colossians 3. In verse 8, he tells us to get rid of such things as anger, malice, and slander. Then in verse 9, he reminds us that we have taken off the old self and its practices. I need to throw away the old in order to put on the new.

Dear God, Take away my old self and all the stuff that goes with it. Today may I put on the new self you have given me along iwth compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. I know this is something I can only do in your strength and power. Amen