Devotion: Use this resource at home to guide your household’s daily devotions. You can do this alone, as a couple, as a family; in the morning, during the day, or at night. Find a routine that works best for you.

Pray: Light a candle and open your devotion time with a prayer.
God of light and love,
you have clothed us in mercy and holiness.
Give us the faith to lay aside our old self,
and gladly put on our new self,
that we may reflect Jesus’ glory to the world. Amen.

Reflect: Reflect on the key verses from Sunday’s reading.
“…seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self,….As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:9b–10a, 12 NRSV)

Study: Study the reading and consider the background.
For Paul, Christ’s resurrection changes us. Being united in Christ’s death means that all our sinfulness and selfishness has died. Being raised with Christ means we are raised as new people. At the same time, Paul is aware that Christians often cling to their old ways and are hesitant to live into the new creation they are in Christ. In this passage from Colossians, Paul uses the imagery of putting on new clothing to talk about how we are called to live and be because of Christ’s resurrection.

Read: Read the following daily readings to deepen your understanding of Sunday’s text. After the reading, ask the follow-up questions.

Read more about being clothed spiritually.

Sunday, Earthly Tents/Heavenly Homes 2 Corinthians 5:1–4

Monday, Clothed with Christ Galatians 3:26–28

Tuesday, Clothed with the New Self  Ephesians 4:22–24

Wednesday, Clothed with Joy Psalm 30:11–12

Thursday, Clothed in Honor Psalm 104:1–2

Friday, Clothed with Salvation Psalm 132:13–16

Saturday Clothed in Salvation Isaiah 61:10–11

Connect: Connect in conversation with others in your household. Discuss the following questions, or simply check in with “Highs” and “Lows.”

• What was a high point of your day? What was a low point?
• Do you like shopping for new clothes? Why or why not?
• What are some habits or traits you need to “take off” or “put on”?

Do: By acting on what we learn, we make God’s word come alive. Do the following activity this week.
As you get dressed one morning, imagine that you are putting on elements of your new self (compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and love) with each piece of clothing.

Bless: Close your devotion with a blessing.
God of life, thank you for raising Jesus from the dead. Help us to live as your resurrection people. Amen.
Adapted (significantly), from material which is Copyright © 2014 Clergy Stuff. Used and adapted with Permission. Find more at www.ClergyStuff.com.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.