ON AND OFF

Ephesians 4:22-24
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

The development of godly character entails putting on and putting off character traits. Merong on at merong off.

Put off falsehood. Pag-isipan kung suot pa nyo ang kasinungalingan. Kung suot pa ay hubarin daw. Put off stealing. Maaaring hindi tayo dumudukot ng candy sa tindahan o toothpaste sa supermarket. Pero kung empleyado kayo at pabola-bola ang oras ninyo, nandadaya kayo. Pagnanakaw yun. O kayo ay employer at hindi naman nyo binabayaran nang husto ang inyong mga manggagawa.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Kailangang ipasok ang mga ito sa ating buhay. Hindi ito madali. Pinagtatrabahuhan yan. Remember that the power comes from God, but the labor is ours.

Some Christians emphasize only the putting off of the negative traits, pero hindi naman pinu-put on ang positive traits. It’s only one-half good when you put off the negative things, but don’t do the good things. May Christians naman who put on the good things, but they don’t put off the negative things. Kaya magulo ang timplada nito. Remember to put off what should be put off, and to put on what should be put on.