“Now, let’s see what fits!” enthused Cindy looking at her son’s pile of clothes. “Do I have too?” whined John. Cindy pulled him into a hug and ruffled his hair, “Sorry, kiddo, but we can’t have you starting middle school naked.” “Mom!” he shouted.
Laughing Cindy sorted through the pile until she found his favorite sweater. “How about this?” she asked. John grabbed the sweater and pulled it over his head, “Yeah! This was my favorite! Oh no, there’s a hole in it!” “No worries,” said Cindy, “we can repair it.”
Holding up a jacket, Cindy requested, “Now, try on this jacket and hat.” “No way, mom. That style worked for elementary school, but it’s not what they wear in middle school.” As they sorted through John’s clothes, they found some needed repairing, some replacing and some worth keeping.
WHAT SHOULD WE SORT?
Even when we’re not starting a new school year, sorting can be beneficial. Rather than clothes, we sort through our lives reflecting on conduct that needs to be repaired, replaced or kept. Then like John puts on new clothes, we can put on a new self.
That you put off, concerning your former conduct,
the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,
and that you put on the new man which was created according to God,
in true righteousness and holiness,
Ephesians 4:22-24
WHAT DO WE REPAIR?
What about the hole in John’s sweater? If he wore it with the hole, the stress on the fabric would enlarge the hole. How does John save his favorite sweater? Repair the hole!
Don’t our relationships sometimes get holes too? Holes created by anger, hurt or rejection. The more we wear those emotions, the greater stress it places on our relationship, enlarging the hole. Like John’s sweater, the way to save the relationship is to repair the hole.
With threads of love and forgiveness1 we sew up the holes in our relationships by reconciling whenever possible.
All this is from God, who through Christ
reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself,
not counting their trespasses against them,
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation,
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 ESV
WHAT DO WE REPLACE?
If John wore his last year’s pants to school he would likely be insulted and ridiculed. They were 3” too short!
Sometimes we have things that have become too short as well; like our tempers. Perhaps it’s time to replace them. Just as John’s pants are replaced with larger ones, our hearts can be enlarged with kindness, compassion and forgiveness.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander,
along with every form of malice.
Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you,
Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV
DO OUR OLD CLOTHES FIT OUR IMAGE?
No? Then like John, toss them aside!
John did not want to start middle school still looking like an elementary school student. Some of last year’s clothes did not fit the new person he wanted to be, (especially that hat).
Do old habits still fit the person we want to be? Like old clothes we can shed those old habits to be more like Christ.
Do not lie to one another, for you have put off the old self with its habits
and have put on the new self.
This is the new being which God, its Creator, is constantly renewing in His own image,
in order to bring you to a full knowledge of himself.
Colossians 3:9-10 GNT
WHAT DO WE KEEP?
Sorting through John’s clothes, they found some that were worth keeping. Sorting through our conduct, we will find that we have some that is worth keeping as well.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves in
tender compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
Colossians 3:12 TVL
DON’T FORGET THE SHOES!
Not only had John out grown his tennis shoes, the tread had diminished and the support was gone!
What kind of shoes do we need to support our new self?
How about shoes of faith?
The sole on shoes of faith will be built by our relationship with Jesus. As we walk forward in faith, the tread will not diminish, but strengthen supporting us even in rough terrain. We can never out-grow these shoes. As long as we continue to wear them, they will never become too small.
For we wak by faith, not by sight,
2 Corinthians 5:7
REFLECTION
Is there any sorting you need to do?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as I write Ephesians 4:22-24 and say it aloud, guide me to sort through my conduct showing me what to repair, replace and keep. Give me shoes to walk by faith as the new self you have created me to be. In Jesus name. Amen.
THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS,
SORT & BECOME NEW
Comment!
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*For information on making Jesus Christ your Savior, email me or visit, http://www.peacewithgod.net/
1 Read more on forgiveness @ There’s Faith In Forgiveness – WHOSE SHOES?! – DianeLese
Photo sweater, valna-studio
Photo boys, andrae-ricketts
Photo dog, sebastien-lavalaye-
Photo shoe, christian-rosswag
