What Are You Wearing?

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Scripture

Col. 3:12   As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.  13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Observation

This message is addressed to those who are already followers of Jesus Christ and Paul utilizes the wording, “holy and beloved” for they are special titles “used of Israel as God’s own possession in the Old Testament and of Christ in the New Testament.” (New Bible Commentary) As God’s holy children, we are to resemble Jesus Christ, clothing ourselves on a daily basis with Christlike characteristics. The result is unity within the body of Christ for overall we are clothed with love.

Application

Sometimes I wish that I had a uniform and could wear the same thing every single day. To my dear Salvation Army friends — I think that sounds appealing! As I write this devotional thought this morning I am distracted by the thought of the weather today and what I ought to wear. I’m at a campground and it may rain for half the day and it’s kind of cool this morning, but could be warm by this afternoon — and all of these become factors in deciding what to wear!

Paul talked about the clothing of God’s holy children. Different items of clothing related to looking like Christ. Don’t forget to put on compassion today! Other items of clothing include humility, meekness and patience. Add to that forgiveness and finally over everything put on love which will pull all the colors of the outfit together making it into one beautiful whole. The result is a community of believers who are bound “together in perfect harmony.”

Deciding what to wear on a daily basis should not be hard for a Christlike disciple. Every single day we should put on Christ. It’s really not optional and if we forget to put him on — well — we just may be walking around naked. At least, spiritually naked — with nothing to show to the world. Wouldn’t we be stunned to see hundreds of people on a daily basis walking around naked? Of course we would — and yet, do we see the spiritually naked on a regular basis?

If we do not spend the time needed to get dressed in our spiritual clothing, we will spend the day walking spiritually naked. Take time to think about what to wear!

Prayer

Lord, please clothe me in you today. Amen.

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