Throw Off the Old; Be Covered in the Joy of the New!

          Have you had your Joy Juice today?  The beginning of a New Year is the perfect time for a new beginning.

            Colossians 3:10 says: ^… and have ( put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”)

Many times we read that verse without looking at the whole passage and we miss some important truth.  Glancing even at the previous verse gives us a little more insight into what Paul is teaching in this passage.  Let’s look at verses 9 & 10:

^9 “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices…. ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

            When we are “new” in Christ and have taken off the “old self”, that means that we should no longer do that same kinds of things we did before we knew Christ as our Lord and Savior.  We should not lie, we should not cheat, we should not gossip! Leaving those old practices behind, we should allow God to replace them with honesty, integrity, wisdom, words of encouragement…..and, you know I have to include: JOY!

            In this New Year, may we grow closer to God each day and allow Him to continually renew us as we study His Word, meditate on His promises and serve others as He leads.

            Let’s throw off the old and be covered in the joy of the new!