Revcort's Ramblings

Scripture Focus

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry… Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” — Colossians 3:5, 12–14 (ESV)

Devotional Thought

The Apostle Paul speaks with clarity and urgency in Colossians 3: there are things in the Christian life that must be put to death, and there are things that must be put on.

First, Paul calls us to deal seriously with sin. These are not small matters or minor habits—they are “earthly” things that no longer belong to who we are in Christ. As believers, we are not trying to become something new—we already are something new. We are “God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved.” The old has passed away, and the new has come.

But here is where many of us struggle. We often focus only on the first half of the command: “Don’t do this. Avoid that. Stop this sin.” Our attention becomes fixed on what we are trying to eliminate. And the result? Frustration, discouragement, and often failure. We fight sin with sheer willpower—and eventually, our strength runs out.

Scripture never intended for us to live that way. God does not just tell us what to remove—He tells us what to replace it with. After saying “put to death,” Paul immediately says, “put on.” Put on compassion. Put on kindness. Put on humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another. Forgive as you have been forgiven. And above all, put on love.

This is the key. The Christian life is not just about subtraction—it is about transformation. It is not merely resisting sin; it is actively pursuing Christ.

When we fix our eyes on sin, we often feel defeated. But when we fix our eyes on Christ—when we seek Him, draw near to Him, and walk in the Spirit—something begins to change. The desires of the flesh begin to lose their grip. The things we once struggled to put off begin to fall away as we put on what is from God.

This is why passages like Colossians 3, 2 Timothy 2:20–22, and Hebrews 12 all point in the same direction: Cleanse yourself, yes—but also pursue righteousness. Lay aside sin—but also run the race looking to Jesus.

Victory over sin is not found in trying harder—it is found in walking closer. Just like salvation was a gift we could never earn, living the Christian life is also sustained by God’s grace. The more we abide in Him, the more our lives begin to reflect Him.

So the question is not only, “What do I need to put off?” But also, “What do I need to put on?”

Reflection Questions

1. What is one “earthly” habit or mindset you know God is calling you to put to death?
2. Do you tend to focus more on avoiding sin or pursuing Christ? How has that affected your walk?
3. Which of the qualities in Colossians 3:12–14 do you need to intentionally “put on” right now?
4. What practical step can you take today to draw nearer to Christ and walk in the Spirit?

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You that I am chosen, holy, and loved in Christ. Help me to put to death the things that do not belong in my life. But more than that, teach me to put on what honors You. Fill my heart with compassion, humility, and love. Help me not to rely on my own strength, but to walk closely with You each day. As I draw near to You, shape me into the person You have called me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.