Put on the New Self: Making a Change

Colossians 3:5-10 (NIV)
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
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.

Today, a large portion of the world is watching the memorial service for Michael Jackson, the king of pop. Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, blogs and other social networking sites are alive with short messages, detailing the wide range of ever-changing emotions. Truly, Michael’s death has impacted the world. Michael Jackson, a man of great talent and ambition who never seemed to really be comfortable in his own skin, has the world saying good bye.

As I mentioned, Michael didn’t seem at peace with who he was when the music stopped. He seemed to desire to be something different…someone different. How many times have we looked at our lives and said, “I don’t like what I have done, or become”? I believe that is why so many can identify with his song, Man in the Mirror.

I'm starting with the man in the mirror,

I'm asking him to change his ways…

I'm gonna make a change;

For once in my life, it's gonna feel real good,

Gonna make a difference,

Gonna make it right.

The challenge is that a change doesn’t start by looking at me…It begins with beholding God; seeing His righteousness, mercy, truth, compassion and love. As we look at Christ, we, then and only then, realize that we need to change and that we cannot bring it to pass. Through Christ’s redemptive work, we can put off the old self and put on the new self. So let’s not start with the man in the mirror, let’s start with the Creator of the man and the mirror.

Will Dungee