Let's all sink in

I was reading through Romans from the NLT and came across Romans 13:14. Now, in the NAS translation it reads, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts" (that's basically the way I've always read that passage). After reading the NLT translation, I wanted to dive in again to this verse. The NLT2004 reads, "Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires". When I put these translations together, the Vernon version reads to "put on and clothe yourself with the life and presence of Lord Jesus, allowing Him to control and live through you; stop thinking on ways to indulge your fleshly desires". I think it gets better when you look at some of the words with just your basic Strong's concordance or greek dictionary. The idea of "putting on" is the idea "to clothe...(in the sense of sinking into a garment)".

1746. enduo, en-doo´-o; from 1722 and 1416 (in the sense of sinking into a garment); to invest with clothing (literally or figuratively): — array, clothe (with), endue, have (put) on.

Have you ever had a garment that you just sink into? It's almost a part of you; comfortable, warm, familiar...it''s just you. The illustration here is more than simply putting on a lifeless set of clothes, but rather entering or "sinking in" to the very life of Christ (clothes are static; the Life of Christ is dynamic!); the idea of resting in His love, forgiveness, omnipotence, provision, mercy, grace and again, His very Life. The decision is clear, we can either "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" and allow Him to "take control" OR we can think on ways to meet our needs and satisfy our flesh (whether that flesh looks good or bad). The phrase "make no provision" is the idea of "forethought" and is in the present tense reminding us not to continually think and plan ways to satisfy our flesh.

4307. pronoia, pron´-oy-ah; from 4306; forethought, i.e. provident care or supply: — providence, provision.

If you try and not think about something by definition you're already thinking about it! So, the lesson here is to put on, sink in, enter in and simply rest in the life of Jesus Christ vs. a life of trying to avoid thinking about all that other stuff. Allow Him to express His very Life through you. If you find yourself thinking, scheming, or planning about ways to get your needs met, perhaps that's a clue your not resting in the very Life of Christ provided for you at the cross. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against planning or goals, but are you setting goals and planning out of the fullness of who you are in Christ or out of perceived need to become something or gain something that you already have in Him? Don't get too caught up in the self analysis trap, meditate on Romans 13:14 and just sink back into the life of Christ and enjoy the rest He has provided.