PUT ON JESUS

"...and put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness..." Ephesians 4:24

My son loves football!! As much as he loves watching it, he loved PLAYING even more! He started playing football when he was just 8 years old and played all the way through high school. His freshman year, his team was undefeated. Man...what a thrill! In high school, because their team was the DRAGONS, they would run through a tunnel and burst onto the field in a cloud of smoke....VERY dramatic!!!! He lived for that moment every week when he would don that #40 jersey and run out on to the field with his team. What wonderful memories!

I thought of that yesterday as our pastor was preaching. No, I wasn't daydreaming. Our pastor is a former football player himself and loves to use football analogies. He talked about putting on his jersey and how his coach reminded them that as a football player for that particular team, they represented their school every day of the week...on and off the field.

I remembered that our son was told the same thing by his coach. Our daughter was a cheerleader, and she was reminded that in or out of uniform, she was a representative of that school so it mattered how she acted all week long.

As believers, we are to PUT ON Jesus Christ each day, just as my son put on his #40 jersey. He was a representative of his high school. We are "ambassadors" for Christ! We may not wear JC on our chest....but we represent Him nonetheless. What does that mean exactly?

Ephesians 4: 26-32 tells us: "put away lying, speak the truth....be angry and sin not...don't let the sun go down on your anger and don't give the Devil and opportunity. The thief should steal no more, he must do honest work with his own hands so he will have something to share with those in need. No corrupt talk should ever come out of your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone in need in order to give grace to those who hear....all bitterness, anger and wrath, insult and slander must be removed from you along with all wickedness. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you".

Today as you dress for work or for school or for whatever is on your TO DO list today....remember to PUT ON JESUS! You are his ambassador today in the workplace, in the grocery store, in the post office, in the restaurant, in the classroom, in the board room, on the air plane and on the highway. You are his representative. Others will judge HIM by how you act. May we be mindful of that in all we do today.