Romans. Timeless truths. Today as I was reading this verse stood out at me: "So remove (cast off) your dark deeds like dirty clothes and put on the shining armor of right living.... clothe yourselves with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires." (13:12,14) Shining armor of right living. Clothe yourself in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Wow. What a statement. What a perspective. What a call to higher living. We talk often enough about the armor of God, and we should. It's good. We think about putting on our belt of truth, holding our shield high and shodding our feet - whatever that means. But what about this: put on the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. What if that actually made it to our morning to do lists. "make coffee... eat breakfast... put on the presence... pack a lunch...." I do not in anyway intend to diminish or demean the gravity of that verse, believe me - but perhaps we're not being as intentional about the presence as we should be. Perhaps it's something that we need to remind ourselves of more often, not as some sort of magical formula to make us more spiritual, but as a realization that we are indeed the temple of the Holy Spirit. That He, despite our constant weakness and failure, continues to love us, and continues to offer us His presence.
We so often feel condemned about our "dark deeds"- but as we take those off, let us learn to accept the grace available also. Then in an attitude of gratefulness and genuine repentance, let us take up Christ, for it's only in His power that we can change anyways!
To "cast off" and neglect to "take up" is to me.... the same as the possessed man who is set free, only to have his "friend" come back with 7 more "friends" seeing that the house is clean and in order. Now he is worse off than he was in the first place. I am, perhaps more than anyone, aware that my deeds are not always perfect, but if I never "put on" after I "cast off" my deeds will find me, and I, in myself wont have the strength to do anything about it. We need His presence. And He offers it so readily. Clothe me in your presence.
