“For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.” – 2 Corinthians 5:1-5

Reading this passage today, a thought rolled through me that I recognize as the Spirit of God in me. He said, “You all need to get good at putting on and constantly wearing your spiritual clothing in Christ, otherwise your new bodies in glory are going to feel really strange to you.”

“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”

“and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

“Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” Worth repeating, for “faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

“The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

“For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

I couldn’t have said it better. Thank You, Lord. Now empower our faithfulness. In Jesus, amen.

Romans 13:14; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:12-17; Ephesians 6:11-17; Colossians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Romans 13:12; 1 Corinthians 15:53.