Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him. Col 3:10 NLT
Think about your smartphone for a moment. It was exciting when you got it new. But over time, apps get outdated, the system slows down, and bugs creep in. That’s why updates are so important.
When you accept the update, the old glitches are fixed, the phone works smoother, and you often get new features that make it better than before. But here’s the catch—you need to choose to install the update. Ignoring it leaves your phone stuck with the same problems.
Paul reminds us in Colossians that in Christ, we are not just patching up our old self—we are putting on an entirely new self. The bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation. 2 Cor 5:17”. A “new” creation by definition means something that did not exist before it was created. Therefore if you are in Christ, you are now a NEW creation. Paul exhorts us in today’s verse to then “put on” our new nature as a result of being a new creation. This is like getting yourself a brand new smart phone. You put off the old flip phone and got yourself a new smart phone.
The second half of the verse of the day exhorts us to “be renewed”. This isn’t a one-time installation; it’s a process. Just like your phone gets updated again and again, your “new self” is continually being renewed in knowledge of God and shaped to look more like Him.
The beauty here is that our new identity is not based on our effort or performance, but on Christ, who is our Creator. He is the One who transforms us daily, peeling away the layers of the old self—anger, bitterness, lies—and clothing us with compassion, kindness, humility, and love (v.12-14).
I used to be very prideful, over confident, borderline arrogant, and quick tempered. A friendly mocking gesture was enough to tick me off. But after coming to Christ, my nature began to slowly change. The Holy Spirit began to convict me of every ungodly nature in me and began to chip away at them one by one. With time, I was a new person. I had become a patient, kind, compassionate, loving, and gentle natured. So much so that my friends and co-workers noticed, and some even asked, “What’s different about you?” That’s the “new self” in action—Christ renewing us to reflect His image.
Reflection Questions
- What “old self” habits or attitudes still try to creep back into your daily life?
- How are you allowing God’s Word and Spirit to “renew” your thinking each day?
- Who around you might notice the difference if you live more consistently from your “new self” in Christ?
Today, think of your life as God’s ongoing update. Don’t ignore it—let Him renew you in His image, one day at a time.
If you are new to the bible and find it intimidating, here is an article on how to study the bible. It will help you adopt an easy method that works best for you in your situation, and also give you a few options for useful tools and study plans.