Leave The Cloak Behind (Mk. 10:50) (Part 6)

What are some of the cloaks that people who follow Jesus need to leave behind?

They need to leave behind the cloak of hopelessness that is woven by continual disappointment. You think, “If the Lord Jesus is for me, then why do all these unfortunate things keep happening?” 

It might help to know that you are not the only one who needs to leave behind this cloak (Judg. 6:13). How did the angel respond to Gideon's claim? (Judg. 6:14)  The angel of the Lord called out strength in Gideon that Gideon didn't recognize.

What? You have no strength, you say? Here is how you can know that isn't true: God says that His presence will be with you (Heb. 13:5b; Mt. 28:20). You believe that, don't you? God's promise and presence provide the strength and that strength provides hope.

They need to leave behind the cloak of rejection that is stitched by learned inferiority.

They need to leave behind the cloak of condemnation that is sewn by lazy thinking and undisciplined responses (Rom. 8:1-2; 12:2). If you struggle with this cloak, then Phil. 4:8 is for you. Watch your thoughts (2 Cor. 10:5) and monitor your input. Be careful about whom you allow to speak into your life.

They need to leave behind the cloak of heaviness that is formed through relentless trials.

• It is okay to have had sad things happen to you.
• It is okay to be sad as you process grief and pain.
• It is not okay to have heaviness become your identity.

That self-sabotage happens when all you think about, all you talk about and all you look for is negative.

They need to leave behind the cloak of self-righteousness that is made by pride (Lu. 15:28- 30; Rom. 12:3).

What other "cloaks" would you suggest believers need to leave behind?