“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” – Romans 13:14
LIGHT FOR NOW: Union with Christ is not hidden from our daily conduct. The Christ we are united with must become visible in the way we think, speak, behave, and relate with others.
Paul gives a striking instruction: “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ”. The Greek expression translated “put on” is enduo, meaning “to clothe oneself, put on, or be dressed with”. Paul uses clothing as a picture of how the believer should express the life of Christ. We have already been brought into Christ, but now we are instructed to put Christ on. This means that what is true of us spiritually should become visible practically. A person may be wearing beautiful clothes, but what people ultimately encounter is the person inside them. In the same way, the believer carries Christ within, but the goal is that Christ becomes evident through his conduct.
Colossians 3:12 says, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering”. Notice the connection between identity and conduct. Because you are chosen and beloved, put on the character that agrees with who you are. We do not behave like Christ in order to become united with Him. We express Christ because we have been united with Him. This is an important distinction. The Christian life is not performance designed to earn acceptance. It is transformation flowing from an identity already established in Christ. Paul therefore says, “Make not provision for the flesh”. The word “provision” comes from pronoia, meaning “forethought, planning, or making preparation.” He is warning believers not to deliberately create opportunities for the flesh to control their actions.
Union with Christ therefore affects our choices. What do you entertain? What do you repeatedly think about? What environments do you willingly expose yourself to? What habits are you feeding? These things matter because what we continually feed eventually finds expression. The believer must learn to make choices that agree with his new identity. If Christ is our life, then our lifestyle should increasingly resemble Him. This is why Christianity is not only what happens in church on Sunday. Union with Christ affects how we behave when nobody is watching, how we speak when we are angry, how we treat people who cannot benefit us, and how we respond when we are misunderstood.
Christ must be visible in ordinary life. The world should not only hear our preaching; it should encounter our character. Our words should carry grace. Our relationships should demonstrate love. Our decisions should reflect wisdom. Our conduct should testify that Christ truly lives in us. The Christian does not merely belong to Christ; he is called to look like Christ. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Before you respond to people today, ask yourself: “Does this response look like Christ?” Let your conduct become an expression of the union you already possess.
CONFESSION: I put on the Lord Jesus Christ. His character is expressed through my words, attitudes, decisions, and relationships. I refuse to give the flesh control over my conduct. Christ is visible in me today, in Jesus Name. Amen!
FOR MORE LIGHT, get the message ‘Understanding Salvation’ by Prophet Dr John Linus.
QUOTE: Union with Christ becomes visible when the character of Christ becomes recognizable in our conduct.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: ROMANS CHAPTER 13; EVENING: COLOSSIANS CHAPTER 3
