Most everyone loves to put on new clothes. There's something about being properly dressed for an occasion and color coordinated that makes you sort of feel special...good...just right.
Colossians 1,2 and 3 basically tells us that Jesus, the Christ and Lord has been presented to us so that we can live our lives in union with and rooted in Him. Consequently, we'll be built and made stable in our faith, characterized by gratitude and thankfulness.
Now, it goes on to say that in Jesus, we can take off an old way of living (old clothes) and put a new way (new garments - Colossians 3:12) that suits God's chosen people, His own, His beloved! A new way, new clothes, a new life! Those garments are: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness and love - which is the crowning, completing and binding ingredient.
I got to thinking...what would happen if everyone in the world decided to take just one of these virtues and live it out, no matter what, for just one day...today...? It would profoundly change our environmment, our world and our lives personally.
In our christian community and churches nationwide, we seem to be enamored with the search for relevance and new methods, etc. What would happen if everyone in the Kingdom of God would take the clothes Jesus has given us and wear them in our church lives, our community and other areas of influence? I can't think of anything more practical and relevant. This Gospel always has been! Division in churches would cease, the dim and nominal image of our very real God would become clear. In a more profound way than ever before (at least in this generation), the deepest longing of humanity would be recognized for Who He Is and His manifest presence through us would gloriously shake a needy world...more things would happen by accident than on purpose because of the unleashed power of the river of the Spirit Of God in us (John 7:38).
Don't get me wrong, there's value in using the latest, the fastest and whatever else is current (or as is commonly used "contemporary"). But all of that, without Him, is just more "stuff". We'll find ourselves competing with the world rather than penetrating it! A strong horse is a false hope for victory. ...It's not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord.
I'd love to see something big like this happen...and am asking God to do it. In the meantime, I'm gonna be busy putting on my new clothes!
Anticipating much,
Mitch
