Put Off the Old and Walk in God's Ways

God removed Joshua's filthy garments, caused his iniquity to pass from him, and called him to walk in His ways and keep His charge.

Topics

God calls His people to leave their former ways behind, receive what He provides, and walk in obedience to Him.

• Joshua stood before the LORD in filthy garments, representing his condition before God.
• God commanded that the filthy garments be removed and declared that Joshua's iniquity had passed from him.
• God did not leave Joshua in the condition in which he was found; He clothed him with a change of raiment.
• The change in Joshua's garments was followed by a call to walk in God's ways and keep His charge.
• God's work in a person's life should lead to a changed direction rather than a return to the former way of living.
• The past should not continue to define a person whom God has called to walk in a new way.
• Spiritual change involves both receiving what God has done and responding through obedience to His Word.
• The believer should not continue carrying former patterns, attitudes, or ways of life after God has called him or her to walk differently.

• Acknowledge the things in your former life that need to be left behind.
• Do not allow past failures to become the permanent definition of your life.
• Receive God's mercy and cleansing with humility rather than continuing to condemn yourself.
• Put away patterns of thought, speech, and conduct that belong to your former way of life.
• Walk according to God's ways rather than returning to what He has called you to leave.
• Keep God's charge by taking His Word seriously and putting it into practice.
• When God brings change into your life, allow that change to be reflected in your daily conduct.
• Look forward to what God is calling you to become rather than continually living in what is already behind you.