What Are You Wearing?

5/2/2016

I have a shirt that I have worn for the past 15 years.

I know this because I remember wearing it for the first time in our new house, barbecuing out back, for our first diner party. There is nothing special about the shirt. It has just lasted a long time and I have no desire to replace it.

I had a sweatshirt that I had worn, until recently, since grade 8. We don't need to count those years, we can all agree it was long, long time ago. My husband recently threw that sweatshirt in the garbage. It had become ripped and frayed, well worn with many a hole, long past being a workout or painting shirt. He said, it wasn't worth keeping for an oil change rag. It was time for it to go.

It is safe to say, based on these insights into my closet, that clothing is not a passion for me. It has functionality, but little hold on my life. It is one of those routine, mundane, backdrop items that I have and need, but place little value or thought in.

To be honest, I rarely give much thought at all to clothing. I usually dress quickly from whatever selection is available and clean. I attempt to match,
most days anyways...

Yet in Scripture, many examples of dressing appear. An alarming amount of verses discuss clothing. What is, to me at least, a seemingly thoughtless and routine activity, receives a lot of page space, which strikes me as very odd.

Therefore as God's chosen people, holy , and Beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Colossians 3:12

For He has clothed me with garments of salvation. He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness.
Isaiah 61:10

Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed toward the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5

Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, and do not obey your flesh and its desires.
Romans 13:14

These are just a few of the many verses I discovered.

This morning God spoke to me through Colossians 3:12. As His Beloved, I need to be wary of those things in my life that I do out of routine. I need to stop and listen to His voice, to seek Him out amongst the monotonous and ordinary. To expect Him to show up and be present in my routine.

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed,
do it all for the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father, through Him.
Colossians 3:17

Whatever I do.....
even in the ordinary.

Do I listen for Him when I dress for the day? Does the act of dressing remind me to clothe myself in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience?

Do I acknowledge His presence as I prepare meals above the hustle and bustle of kids, dishes banging, and the chaos of an active household?

Do I give thanks and rejoice in His provisions when I wash laundry and dust furniture, cut the grass, or drive the kids from activity to activity?

Am I aware that His grace is with me as I go about my day? Do others see me, and see Him
... even if just a glimpse?

Let your conversation be always full of grace,
seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:5

Salt....

Another ordinary item.

Another reminder of intentionality.

Does God sprinkle me like salt in His world?

a bit of flavouring of hope, joy, and love
a dash of preservation using truth, humility, justice, and self control
a symbol of friendship as I love others and offer hospitality

I hope so.

No, I know so! I am His and so this is true!

I know it to be true,
but only when.....

I have been intentional to clothe myself with Him.
I have stopped to listen and hear Him speak.
I have felt His presence and invited Him into my day.
when I set my mind on things above and not on earthy things.

This is when I complete the work I have received in the Lord.
Colossians 4:17

SO WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?

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