“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature”
The message is simple; surround yourselves in Christ rather than in sin.
Let’s be honest, this can be a lot harder than it sounds. But look at what the verse shares—“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime…” The reason this statement is so important is because you don’t hide things in broad daylight. During the day, your actions are known and seen and accounted for. However, when the night comes it’s a lot easier to hide and cover up what we are doing. When we hide our struggles and our mess, it will always have power over us. If we want to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus, then we must bring the dark things to light. This is essential for our growth and freedom from sin.
The beautiful phrase “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus” reminds me of the story of the prodigal son. After living life burdened by sin and its destruction, the son returns home and encounters his father. Instead of shame and punishment, he found his father lovingly embracing him. The father says to his servants “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.” The father wanted to give his son the best possible thing to cover him, which would be his own robe. In the same way, the Father chose to give the best possible thing to cover you, which was His Son Jesus.
relationship over perfectionism
I know that sometimes I can approach or respond to sin too casually, as if it’s insignificant. But as I look at those times when I seek to gratify my own sinful desires, I cannot ignore the destructive effect it has on my heart and my life. God wants to lead us towards himself and away from sin because sin brings oppression while God brings abundance. Hear me out, the purpose of life is to be in relationship with God, not to avoid sin. He is all about our relationship, not my religious perfectionism. With that being said, I pray that we all understand that sin is a big deal. When we understand the severity of sin, the grace of God becomes all the more mind-blowing.
If you are currently struggling to overcome sin, know that God has clothed you and covered you with His Son. Victory and freedom are yours in Christ. As you seek to live for Christ instead for yourselves, prioritize vulnerability and honesty so that nothing hidden has power over you.
-TIm
