Trade Ya!

“But this new shirt will fit you so much better! Trade ya, o.k.?” she pleaded.

My friend, Kathy, attempted to give the needy young child a brand new shirt that would fit her much better than her old tight-fitting and hot sweater. The underprivileged toddler had worn this sweater for several months because she owned no other clothes. The sleeves of the sweater were too short and tight around her arms; the buttons were about to pop off across her chest; and the fabric of the pink sweater was much too hot for the sweltering heat. But the little girl was not about to trade her uncomfortable, yet familiar, sweater for a different shirt. What if…?

Do you have something that you need to let go of so you can receive something better? Like this wary young child, we often refuse to lay aside a particular attitude, behavior, or lifestyle that “doesn’t fit” us anymore. It is no longer right or beneficial for us but because we are so familiar with it we prefer to keep it than to exchange it for something else that may be more beneficial. There is a sense of safety and security in familiarity.

Such thinking is common for some women who have been physically abused by a husband or boyfriend. They don’t like the abuse at all but either they believe that they deserve it or are afraid of being out on their own. So they stay with what they are familiar with, risking the danger of continued abuse.

There are abandoned and abused children removed from their homes who desire to return to their abusive parents. Children naturally desire to trust their parents, even if they are not trustworthy. The children don’t often realize that their blight (the separation from their family) may actually be their salvation. They know that they want familiarity, not estrangement from that familiarity.

Change can be a scary thing! I usually dislike change. “What if this happens? What if that happens? Maybe I should just stay with what I know!” But change can also be a blessing! And with wise, trustworthy guidance and counsel, we can experience that blessing!

Similar to my friend Kathy, the Apostle Paul pleads with us to choose to “put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light…Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Romans 13:12, 14) Choose to trade the old for the new!

Paul again entreats us to choose to “lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

He continues encouraging us by writing, “[Choose to] put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him… [choose to] clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:8-10, 12-14)

Paul tells us to trade our ”tight sweater" of fear, bitterness, unforgiveness, rebellion and pride for the more beneficial garments of love, compassion, humility, patience, and forgiveness. But what if…?

Paul tells us “what if.” He tells us that if we choose to trade the old selfish ways for the new, we will be able to experience peace! And, after all, isn’t that what we all desire? Peace, no matter what the circumstances?

If we choose to “put on” or clothe ourselves with the perfect bond of love, then we will be able to “let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts ...and be thankful.” (Colossians 3:14,15) And when there is peace in our hearts, we will be able to sing with joy and thankfulness in our hearts to God. Oh, to be free to sing rather than fret and worry! That’s my heart’s desire! How about you?

Just imagine, once that little girl chose to trade in the old sweater and put on the new shirt, she must have been SO happy and thankful! Once she risked the familiar and accepted the new, she must have realized what she had been missing. She must have wished that she had traded in her old sweater much sooner!

Are you ready to trade in YOUR old clothes for the new garments the Lord has ready for you? Are you weary of wearing the bitterness, fear, and pride? Are you ready to be clothed in peace, joy and thankfulness? Jesus wants that for you, too! And He is pleading with you to trust that He knows what is best for you. He’s saying, “Trade ya! A new life for an old one! A weary life for a peaceful one! What do you say?”

O.k., I'll trade ya, Lord! My old rags don't fit right! Help me to choose that which will bring comfort, peace and thankfulness, rather than bitterness and fear!

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