“Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and beloved, clothe yourself with a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience…and beyond these things, put on love which is the perfect bond of unity.”  Colossians 3:12, 14a

Sundays were always “dress up” days when I was a child.  Fancy dresses, patent leather shoes, hat, pocketbook and white gloves.  And as I grew older I donned high heels, that were progressively higher according to my age, and nylons with seams up the back that were next to impossible to keep straight.  It was unheard of to leave the house “underdressed”.

Needless to say, when Jim and I moved to Oregon in 1975 I had a few too many “fancy dresses” in my closet.   The fashion statement of the northwest dictated that I wear something different, even to church.  Over the years I have adapted to the more relaxed lifestyle and have all but forgotten the “dress up” days of my youth.  I appreciate more that ”man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.”

In Colossians, Paul tells me how I should dress, what I should put on and why.  Because God chose me and I am dearly loved by Him, He has asked that I put off my old self, clothes and all, and be dressed in the white clothes of His righteousness.  Revelation 3:5 says, “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white…”

My new duds include, 1) compassion - I must have a heart of compassion and tender care for those around me in need.  2) kindness - I must be generous and sweet spirited and speak with gentleness and goodness.  3) humiltiy - I become humble as I recognize that the creator of the universe chose to create me and graft me into the vine.  I have no right to be arrogant among others who are also “…a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession.” (I Peter 2:9)  4) gentleness - I must be self-controlled as I learn to be God-controlled.  I need to model the maker as He “….while being reviled, He did not revile in return..” (I Peter 2:23)   5)patience - With my fellow believers I must practice patience, never being driven to cynicism, bitterness, or anger, but instead forgiving just has I have been constantly forgiven. 6) love - I must put on love each day and wear it so that all men will know that I am a disciple of Christ.

There was an old saying, “All dressed up and no place to go.”  In 3 John 7, we see that some disciples “…went out for the sake of His Name.”  We, too, must put on our “Sunday best” and head out into a world that is desparately in need of some new clothes.   

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 23rd, 2007 at 5:20 am and is filed under Daily Readings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.