Garments of Righteousness: Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11

Once upon a time, a baby eagle fell from its nest and landed in hay on a chicken farm. As time goes by, the bird became an adult yet remained with the chickens as one of their own. Then one day it saw a flock of birds flying south to beat the winter season. A Rooster drew near as the bird expressed its heart's desires. "I sure wish I could fly like them. Boy I'll go so many places and enjoy the world from a different view." Hearing that desire, the Rooster swiftly responded, "what do you mean, you wish you could fly like them? Aren't you an eagle with wings to soar along the firmament of the skies?" The bird walked away, head held down and began to peck on the ground as the chickens do. The Rooster shook its head and followed along, peck! peck! peck!

 Today, as with this baby eagle, a lot of people suffer from an identity crisis. When a person lacks knowledge of his or her God-given identity, they'll live according to the characteristics of the false identity they adapt to. As people of God, we are seated IN CHIRST at the right hand of God. Nonetheless, a great number of believers are living below their ability and potential because they have adapted the chicken mindset rather than a renewed mind. Our Scripture today, taken from Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11 provides a relevant message:  "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God (Col 3: 1-3). Put to death therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, which is idolatry (vs: 5). Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator" (vs: 9-10).



Scripture uses the term "take off" and "put on" which connotes the idea of taking off dirty clothes and putting on clean clothes. Do you put on clean clothes over dirty clothes? Absolutely not. Likewise, as we strive to become renewed daily, our conversations, actions, attitudes, and even our silence must reflect and represents Christ.


The Rooster told the eagle it was created to soar the firmament of the skies, yet the bird continued to live like a chicken. The eagle hadn't renewed its chicken mindset, thus peck, peck, peck like a chicken. The Scripture speaks of two states of being: the old self and the new self. There is so much the new self can accomplish in Christ, but to do so is also a choice.  Sacrifice requires death to self, and most assuredly when we die to our old practices, we'll see greater manifestations of God's power in our day-to-day circumstances. To fly, or stay on the ground pecking. What will it be for you personally? I humbly implore you: Let's choose to fly in our newness in Christ.

 

R.G.  03/08/25

 Image: https://grandmotherafrica.com/the-chicken-eagle/

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