clothed in Christ

Fresh Manna 2008© by Pastor Tim Burt

Gal 3:27-29 “… for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think there is one of us who hasn’t worried at one time or another (maybe multiple times) thinking, “I wonder if anyone things I’m a little weird.” Is that word too strong? Okay, how about quirky, a little strange, have our faults, cut from another mold, etc, you name it. I think everyone wants to be thought of as normal and okay. At the same time, how many times have you looked around you and thought – “that person is weird.” “She is majorly quirky.” “He’s a little out there if you know what I mean.” “She has got some major issues.” “I’m not sure what planet he’s from.”

On one hand, we’ve had this reoccurring thought, “I hope people think I’m normal and nice,” and on the other hand, we see a lot of people that we think might qualify for the “not quite normal list.” There may be a few perfect people out there but I don’t know any of them.

Because we have to deal with people on a continuous basis, we can begin to categorize people without even realizing it and create judgments and mindsets about the way a person is. That might lead us to treating them in a lesser way than they deserve. It happened to John the Baptist. Jesus was teaching His disciples when he explained that the religious leaders of that day categorized John because of the way he looked and conducted his ministry. “For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon.” (Matthew 11:18) Later, Jesus was proclaiming hard truth to those same religious leaders and they accused Him also of having a demon. (That must have been the popular word or phrase to put someone down with in that day.)

So, there is nothing new under the sun. People were judging and categorizing and putting down people then and continue to do so today. We are all tempted at times.

Today’s Fresh Manna verse reminds me of something huge that I want to be mindful of. It’s this. If someone has surrendered their life to Jesus Christ and made Him Lord and Savior, then they are what today’s Fresh Manna verse says they are – “…baptized into Christ and clothed with Christ.”

It is such a temptation for so many to feel superior in some way to others. None of us want to admit that we would ever feel that way. But, our words – categorizing people – our actions, wanting to avoid people because we think they are something less than us – all of these things we do are telltale signs that we do see ourselves as better than someone else.

God’s Word has that way of piercing our heart and putting us back in our right place. Many people might look like dented cans on grocery store shelves, but the insides of that can are probably just the same as the cans that aren’t dented – the insides are good!

God wants us to help each other get the dents out. God wants us to see others “clothed in Him.” He wants us to help others undergo supernatural transformation that only His Word can do. Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” God’s Word will help anyone and that is the promise that we are heirs to and need to stand with and support each other in.

Satan through his disobedience was transformed to the fake, deceiver, and destroyer he is through the pride he yielded to. Now he lives in that pride as a fake pretending he is good. 2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” This means he deceptively hides behind a mask appearing to be good. We don’t want to be the fake he is. We want to love others seeing that they like us are clothed with Christ and stand with them for all of God’s best. John 13:35 “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another.”

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/