What to wear?

Colossians 3:12-15 NKJV

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; [13] bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. [14] But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. [15] And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

We each have a choice everyday of what to wear. Hopefully, we all put on clean underwear, confining the previous day's soiled ones to the wash basket. No one wants to stink the place out!

Then we open the cupboard and choose how to dress according to what we have to do and where we have to go, taking into account the temperature and season.

These factors do not always coexist easily.

Yesterday friends showed us photos of a wedding they'd been to on Rhodes very recently. The weather was scorching hot and there was absolutely no shade to be had in the outdoor venue. Yet they still dressed as if in England - the men in 3 piece suits and ties - "it was so hard to wear all this in the intense heat", they told us. Yet they did it, because it was appropriate for the occasion, the husband being the best man!

As followers of the Lord Jesus we should dress appropriately - spiritually.

The Holy Spirit has provided a wardrobe full of spiritual clothes so that we each can be the "best man" and "best woman" regardless of the "temperature" surrounding us.

Just look at the array listed in the above passage: tender mercies, gentleness, humility, forgiveness, kindness, longsuffering - the "underwear" we all need as we tackle life stresses and strains.

The whole of the attire is held together by unconditional love and peace in the power of the Holy Spirit.

O to be clothed like that - when I compare it to the things that I have worn: anger, bitterness, grudges, complaining, bigotry and hatred! All these ugly garments soiled by my prideful attitude.

Isaiah 61 promises how Jesus will introduce new spiritual clothes for us to wear:

Isaiah 61:3 NKJV

To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

May I dress in the spiritual clothes You have provided in this day to glorify You Jesus.

Colossians 3:14 NLT

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.