School is now underway and so we should get a break from all the “back-to-school” ads which have been running since July. Many of those ads promoted the latest fashions and footwear for fall. However, school is a long look back in the rearview mirror for some of us, therefore there’s no need to try and acquire the latest looks.
Fashions come and go. Seasons change and so must our attire. When winter comes, it is time for wool socks, sweaters, down parkas and Carhartts to appear. During winter in Minnesota, warmth is never out of fashion.
Now, what does this have to do with followers of Jesus? One of the images in the New Testament for the Christian is clothing and being clothed. A quick search in the Bible reveals that we’re clothed with Christ by faith (Galatians 3:26-27), we’ve got conscious clothing choices to make daily (Romans 13:14), and we’ve got some heavenly clothing coming (2 Corinthians 5:2-4; 1 Corinthians 15:53-54).
The Bible also teaches us that as Christians, we’ve got some required clothing. Some might even call it a “dress code” befitting our status as God’s children. The biblical text is Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
The “well-dressed” Christian and the “well-dressed” church will be found wearing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness, and love. (The verb clothe in Colossians 3:12 is in the imperative mood - it is a command. Also, the verb’s voice is middle - meaning each of us must dress ourselves with these characteristics.) As we begin to establish new routines for the fall, as ministries restart in our churches, let us each strive to wear proudly the clothes of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness, and love. It won’t always be easy to dress in this way. There will be times we’d prefer to be dressed in our vests of vengeance, our robes of wrath, our aprons of anger, coveralls of complaining or whatever else our old nature tells us is “right” for the occasion. But those old clothes must be taken off just as barn clothes must be removed before entering the house, so we don’t stink it up.
These character qualities of Colossians 3:12-14 are to be worn daily by us through the power of the Holy Spirit, and we’ll never outgrow them! Perhaps others would ask us where we got those clothes (e.g., “How could you forgive so and so?”), and we could tell them of Jesus and his love. This fall, choose to dress in God’s best daily. God’s clothing for us is always fashionable and in season. The world needs Christians dressed in God’s everyday best. What will you wear today?
