“Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before”. Mark 2:21
The word speaks to us clearly that if we do not replace our old worldly life to a new life in Christ, we will end up worse than before. Without the values of eternal life, the values of salvation, our lives are naked, exposed, robbed of peace, security and dignity. We cannot wear our old clothes with new patches to cover the areas that are damaged. Similarly we cannot mix our old life with our new life in Jesus Christ.
What the prodigal son’s father did when he came back? Luke 15:11-32. He gave him new clothes and removed the old clothes so there is no reminder of his old life..The old clothes indicates that we need to discard our old ways of life, once we come to Christ. That is we have to discard our negative thinking, speaking, actions and ,reactions. We must wear the new cloth of salvation, so there won’t be any dead habits or old attitudes. Since we are priests and kings we should wear the clothes befitting our position. We must be humble, compassionate, strong and righteous as a priest and royal, strong and authoritative and joyous as a king.
Ephesians4:20 to 24 says that we have to wear the new man and discard the old man. By faith in Jesus Christ and by His grace we have a new clothing to cover from head to foot. There is no fear that our old habits, wrong doings and sins are with us now. When we wear new cloth of salvation all those old rags of guilt, fear, worry, pride and confidence in our own righteousness will go away from us..We need to cast it into the fire so that it won’t come back to us.
Colossians 3:12 "Therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and long-suffering ".
Our goals and priorities will completely be changed. Prodigal son’s father loved him enough to forget the past and received him.The signet ring father gave him is a symbol of authority. New shoes given were for him to go to places to represent the father.
Prayer: Heavenly Father we want to wear the new clothes of salvation and completely throw off our old clothes of sinful activities. Give us the grace to do that with the help of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Sol. Gigi Jacob AOJ