⏱ 6 min read

Nostalgia

• Hip hip hip hurray! I recall the nostalgic feeling of birthday celebrations as a child.
• There was no way one was going to miss out on who the celebrant was – from your hair, to your clothes, and your shoes, everything was new, and your glow was effortlessly noticeable.

Similarly, you will notice when celebrating milestones in life (e.g. graduations, weddings, christenings, etc.), celebrants put on new clothing or their best to mark the day (Can you guess the celebrant below?).

The Biggest Celebration

Dearest friend, our decision to accept and confess Christ as Lord and Saviour is the greatest milestone to ever achieve, and the biggest celebration ever in heaven and on earth. 

“In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” ~ Luke 15:10 

• This decision of repentance being celebrated involves a sincere change of heart and a conscious commitment to grow out of our old nature to align with Christ through the gift of grace.
• This spiritual celebration, just like our earthly celebrations, comes with new apparel which helps one to identify you and me as the celebrants.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" ~ 2 Cor 5:17

Now imagine you go for a celebration and the celebrant wears the dirty, sweaty clothing they used in prepping for the party from the start through to the end of the party.

• How confusing and misleading that would be?
• In the same vein, the celebration of salvation comes with “new clothing,” which must be maintained daily through grace to strengthen the change and truly identify as a follower of Christ.

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." ~ Col 3:1-3

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 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,  in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.” ~ Col 3:5-7

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For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. ~ Titus 2:11-14

The New Man and His “New Wele”

“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” ~ Col 3:8-10 

• “New Wele”  is a jargon that was used among millennial children in Ghana when one wore new clothing or had a new item in possession.
• In Christ, our new life is seen in terms of a continuous growth in character and not necessarily an instant switch.
• The character of the new man is outlined in Col 3:12-15.

The new man is full of Mercy, Kindness, Humility, Meekness, Long suffering, Forbearance, Forgiveness, and LOVE. Notice this literally spells out the fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5:22-23.

• Fruits, as we know, do not appear overnight. They appear as a result of an intentional cultivation of a seed.
• The seed of Christ is sown in us when we accept the gift of grace through faith.

However, to put on this new character requires that one dwells in the Lord daily, through the Word, gathering of saints, keeping good company, dwelling in His presence, being involved in church work, etc.

“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” ~ John 15:3-4 

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." ~ Col 3:16 -17

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1 Cor 15:33 says, Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.

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• You may have identified one or more characters of the New Man you are yet to achieve.
• I encourage you today to keep pressing, don’t settle for less, come up higher.
• Fruits take time to bear – there is more room for growth for all of us in Christ!  

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” ~ John 15:2.

• Do not stay out of God’s presence out of guilt. His mercies are new every morning, and His grace is sufficient. 
• Stay connected to the vine and allow the Father to prune you.
• Be ready to sacrifice and embrace the discipline of God (Heb 12:11).

Be very intentional in building the Character of the New Man and watch the Holy Spirit transform you into Christ’s glorious image. ~ Deaconess Denise Samuella Oppong.

Heavenly Father, today I put off every part of the old man and put on the new man in Christ. Help me to bear the fruits of the Spirit as I dwell with You daily in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Hey, you're blessed and highly favoured and dearly loved!
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