What Are We Wearing Today, Lord?
“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,”
Colossians 3:12
In Ephesians 1, Paul tells us that we are chosen, predestined, for a purpose: to live in a way that causes people to be in awe of God, to reflect His glory such that others will see Him and be drawn to Him. We cannot do this in our own strength. Paul knew this and shared his personal struggle with giving in to sinful desires to do just the opposite in Romans 7.
In Colossians 3 Paul starts verse 12 with the word “therefore,” reminding us of what he has just written. The key to being able to live with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience displayed in our daily lives is to remind ourselves that we have taken off the sinful desires and put on the new self – Him (verses 9-10).
Other commentaries use the word “clothe” to remind us that it is a conscious decision to actually “put on” the new self. A conscious decision to live each day clothed, dressed, with the new self. The key to clothing ourselves – living under His control – is to renew ourselves each day with a new outfit, something new we’ve learned about Jesus Christ as we increase our knowledge of the life He lived as one of us.
We know what it’s like to put on a new outfit that brings out the best in us and covers the bad. We look in the mirror with an upbeat heart. Our spirits are lifted. We have self-confidence and are empowered. When we are empowered with His strength – are clothed with Him – we know we are not alone. We are safe in Him. We can be confident in trying to live with compassion toward others. Because even if rejected, we know we can take refuge in Him.
This is a journey, a daily trying on of new outfits. Each day we cloth ourselves by practicing a new characteristic of Jesus Christ discovered while renewing our new self in studying His life. This is the key to living the journey in such a way that it will give Him glory and honor and cause those we meet to want to know more about Him. Living this kind of journey – a life clothed in the new self – pleases Him!
“Lord, I want to experiment with new fashions, to try on something new! I know I can do this, no matter how new or difficult or scary it may seem. I know I can do this because You are there with me. We are connected: I feel safe in You. I can live this new self, this holy life You desire, because it’s really You living it through me. I’m ready for this journey. I’m ready for our journey. What are we wearing today, Lord?”