TAKEN OFF YOUR OLD SELF – PUT ON THE NEW SELF / COLOSSIANS 3:9-10

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Colossians 3:9-10

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; ¹⁰And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Stripping Away the Old: Embracing Your New Identity in Christ

Have you ever tried putting on a clean, fresh shirt over a body covered in dirt and sweat after a long day of yard work? It doesn’t work. The mud seeps through, the smell lingers, and the new clothes quickly lose their freshness.

To truly enjoy the clean clothes, you first have to strip off the dirty ones and wash away the grime.

This is the exact picture the Apostle Paul paints for us in Colossians 3:9-10:

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”

The Wardrobe of the Soul

Paul uses the literal language of changing clothes (“putting off” and “putting on”) to describe a profound spiritual reality. When we surrender our lives to Jesus, a cosmic wardrobe change takes place.

The Old Self: This represents our former way of living—the default human settings driven by selfishness, pride, anger, and, as Paul highlights here, deception. These are the tattered, stained rags of our past.
The New Self: This is our new identity in Christ. It is a garment woven with grace, truth, righteousness, and love.

Paul reminds us that we cannot wear both at the same time. We cannot effectively walk in the new life Christ offers while still clinging to the deceptive habits of our old nature. Choosing truth over lies is one of the most practical ways we show the world that our wardrobe has changed.

A Continuous Renewal

Notice the phrasing in Colossians 3:10: the new self “is being renewed in knowledge.”

While our salvation happens in an instant, growing to look like Jesus is a lifelong process. Day by day, as we fill our minds with God’s Word (knowledge), the Holy Spirit reshapes our hearts to look more like our Creator. We are being restored to the original design God intended for humanity before sin entered the picture.

Today, take a moment to audit your spiritual wardrobe. Are you trying to wear the old rags of anger, lying, or fear over the beautiful robes of righteousness Christ has given you? It’s time to take them off for good.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the incredible gift of a new identity in Your Son, Jesus Christ. I praise You that my past no longer defines me, and that the old tattered garments of my sin have been stripped away at the cross.

Lord, forgive me for the times I try to put those old rags back on—the times I resort to deceit, pride, or anger. Holy Spirit, convict my heart when I am slipping into old habits. Help me daily to put off the old self and consciously put on the new self. Renew my mind today with Your truth, and shape me into the image of Jesus. Let my life reflect Your beauty and holiness to everyone I meet.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace