Putting on your new nature is like putting on new clothes.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each others faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
It is difficult to imagine what life would be like as a slave and to live without freedom to make your own decisions. God didn't create man to live that way, he had every right to, he could have created us so that we had no choice but to do things exactly the way that he says that they should be done, after-all his way is the right way.
The Bible tells us to become like him, we are told to clothe ourselves with the character traits that will help us do that, which outfit will you put on? Will you wear your old clothes of selfishness, envy and greed or will you put on the bright new clothes that Jesus put in your closet?
You get to decide what to wear, it is your choice to do things God's way and to take on the characteristics that please him, God doesn't force himself on us. God and Jesus have given us instructions on how to live a rewarding and fulfilling life, they have told us what the best way is but we don't have to live that way, we get to make our own decisions.
It doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter what your past looks like or where you come from or who your parents are, we all have the same opportunity to make the choice to live to please him. We all get to decide whether Christ is all that matters or if we are going to continue to live to please ourselves.
Jesus is our example
1 Peter 2:21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.Have you every wondered why Jesus spent thirty-three years on this planet if he really only came so that he could be crucified for our sins? Couldn't he have come down and been killed a lot faster and paid the price for my freedom?
Jesus didn't only come to save me from my sins but he also came so that he could show me a new lifestyle. Jesus was the perfect example , he showed me what it looks like to live with mercy, humility, gentleness, and patience. Jesus showed me how to suffer and how to forgive those that are responsible for your suffering.
