06/25/2021
When we rise up from the waters of baptism we are told that we have put on Christ, but it doesn’t stop there. When we rise from our bed in the morning, our first word should prayerfully be the name of God, and then we should be clothing ourselves in Jesus. Each morning as we dress ourselves for the day ahead, what is the nature of the garments we select? Do we put on a worldly covering or a spiritual set of clothes? Are they the old rags we wore yesterday, or the new clothes of our transformed self… the clothing of Christ?
“And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.”
Galatians 3:27 NLT
Our first breath of every day should be the name of God, uttered in prayerful thanksgiving, and our first action should be to dress ourselves in Jesus. It is easy to allow ourselves to unconsciously stumble from bed, and head towards the restroom while not thinking about much of anything, or to groan with the pain of aging joints, but let’s resist the temptation of the world to distract us, and remain still in our beds for just a little while longer as we breath in “Yah”, and breath out “Weh”; this becoming our first conscious breath… the name of God… Yahweh. Then with this breath of prayer on our lips, let’s dress ourselves in Christ… a fresh new set of clothes.
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
Have we ever considered the fact that we say the name of God with every breath we take? His name is the rhythm of our life that begins with the first breath of life we breathe at birth, “Yah”, and continues on until our final exhale in death… “Wehhhh…”. We breathe it all day long, and in the night as we sleep. We do this without much forethought and yet there it is… our constant reminder that God is with us always.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””
Joshua 1:9 ESV
And when we are clothed in Christ at the beginning of each day we know that He is with us also. Our faith is fresh and new; giving us hope all the day long, and preparing us to obey His commands, and God’s will.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Matthew 28:19-20 ESV
Before we believed in Jesus we dressed ourselves each day in the old and worn clothing of the world, and without them we were ashamed, we were afraid, and saw ourselves physically naked. We hid, and covered ourselves the best we could. Well, it is much the same in faith; we clothe ourselves spiritually in Christ, and we feel our nakedness until the moment we are dressed in Him. In this way we are kept warm, and alive, as we abide in Him, and protected from the cold earthly death that once stalked our flesh.
“Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
Romans 13:13-14 ESV
So how do we rise from our slumber to face the world each morning? If we don’t do so already let’s stay at rest in our beds until we have consciously breathed, in and out, the name of God… “Yah”…. “Weh”, then before our feet lead us anywhere else, let’s clothe ourselves in Christ by thanking God for this day by praying in the name of Jesus. Whether you believe this to be his literal spoken name, or praying in accordance with His character, pray nonetheless, so that You can feel Him against the skin of your spirit as you acknowledge He is with you always.
“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:13-14 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for breathing life into each of us, and blessing us by allowing us to breathe your name throughout our earthly lives. Thank you for clothing us in your Son Jesus Christ who lived, suffered, died, then was resurrected, and ascended to sit at your right hand. Thank you for His name in which we pray to begin each day. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is with us always, and who sent Your Son Jesus to be with us until the end of the age. Praised be your name Father for watching over us as we sleep, and during those times when we are unaware of your presence. Blessed are we as we breathe your name all the day long, even in the deepest of slumber. Your name is on our lips always as you watch over us. You are mighty Lord, and stand over us in this world from the first utterance of your name that we gasp to the last fleeting breath which seeps weakly from our mouth. Your grace abounds, and through its living vessel, Jesus Christ, we are awash in it forever. Holy Father we pray this day that should the hour come for Jesus to return, that you will find us worthy, righteous, calling your name, and dressed in your Son Jesus.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24 ESV
Rich Forbes