Colossians 3:12 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."
It's the new year, and that means most of us are trying to figure out what changes need to be made in our lives for 2011. Colossians 3:12, the verse to memorize for this week, is a perfect resolution for the New Year. I heard someone say earlier this week that instead of focusing on the physical things you want to change in your life like your weight, you need to ask God what qualities you possess that are not consistent with His character. Those are the areas that should be your focus of change for the New Year.
With the advent of the tv show "What Not to Wear" on TLC, my teenager Amber is my personal fashion expert. She watches every episode and gives me much needed fashion advice. I usually will not walk out the door without her giving me a thumbs up. In fact, it's not uncommon for me to change clothes numerous times until I get that nod of approval. You see, I'm not really good at fashion. I like it, and I love to shop, but putting it all together is a bit harder for me.
Do you have any old items of clothing that you are emotionally attached to? I used to have this pair of overalls. They were too big for me, and I looked terrible in them, but I didn't care. I loved them. They were comfortable and unrestraining. The last day I wore those favorite overalls was the day I met with a professional at my son's school. Never in my life had someone talked to me like I was an uneducated and truly stupid person like that professional did. I was so frustrated with how I had been treated, and as I tried to figure it out, I came to the conclusion that I was judged by my clothing. Never again would I let that happen, so in the garbage the overalls went.
In Colossians chapter three, Paul talks about spiritual clothing. Paul had style, in a spiritual sense, and he shares those spiritual "fashion" do's and don'ts with us. Take some time to read Colossians 3, especially verses 7-17. In this passage Paul says, don't wear the clothes that you used to wear, the sinful clothes of anger, rage, lying, etc. He says, put those things away.
You see, sometimes sin is like my old overalls. It's comfortable. It's unrestrained. And although I know it doesn't look good, I don't care, because to be perfectly honest, it feels really good. But, the truth is that I need to throw those old sinful 'clothes' in the garbage. How do I do it? Prayer. Soul-searching. Confession. Commitment. And only with God's help.
I think it's pretty awesome that God gives us a choice to get rid of our old clothes, and then He shows us a brand new wardrobe to put on. This isn't a wardrobe from Goodwill. It's a high-end spiritual fashion set of clothes. It's the clothes you would see on the runway of heaven. Paul says that we should clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love. Most of these are the fruits of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23. These clothes we should wear are all character qualities of Christ. Think about it. If you were given a jacket or article of clothing from your most revered person, would you not cling to it, smell it, hug it, sleep with it, and even live in it? Why do we not do the same thing with Christ and the clothing He offers?
Then Paul closes the section with answering "how" we get this new wardrobe. By letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. By letting His Word dwell in me. Doing everything in the name of Jesus. And giving thanks to God. I can get this new wardrobe and it doesn't cost me a financial cent! Being the bargain shopper I am, that's my kind of wardrobe. But, it does cost me myself, my commitment to Christ, my yielding to His way instead of mine...it costs giving up my wants and wishes for His will. God's fashion must be my priority, not my own desire to wear sloppy, comfortable overalls.
Perhaps like me, you've read these verses hundreds of times. Perhaps like me, you're starting the new year with good intentions and new resolutions. Let's all make a new resolution to have a "What Not to Wear" experiment in fashion - God's way. Let's start with memorizing the verse this week and internalizing it in our lives. Whether you're a girl who loves to shop or a guy who hates it, I think you can relate to the wardrobe God wants us to be clothed in. Shopping anyone?
---Beth Banfill
www.GodandMe2theMax.com