I got up this morning and started looking up scriptures about love and I couldn’t get away from these. I’ve read them numerous times before, but they got me stirred up this morning!
“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 one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15
It’s amazing how many people that live under the “banner” and “label” of Christian have become everything except what the words of Colossians 3 says. I was going in a totally different direction this morning as I sat down to read my Bible and study, but God brought me to these verses for a reason. I kept reading them over and over and the Holy Spirit spoke to me. I know I need a reminder of those things which I should clothe myself with each day, but I believe children of God everywhere need a reminder. We’ve gotten a little too comfortable wearing clothes of this wrinkled and worn out world.
The Holy Spirit spoke these words to my heart:
You can’t clothe yourself in compassion when you aren’t willing to give away the best of what you have instead of your “hand-me downs”.
You can’t possibly be wearing kindness like a beautiful garment, when your facial expressions and attitudes have already ripped someone else to shreds.
There is no way to balance a hat of humility on your head when your nose is stuck in the air.
Your sweater of gentleness can’t cover and hide arms that are consistently thrashing back and forth in fits of rage.
Oh, those pearls of patience! Most of time you spend our days chewing and biting on them with anxiety and fear. Let them things hang delicately around your neck, my child. I am in control.
We are to be so clothed with holiness that someone can’t help but see Jesus in us. 2020 has been a year of reflection for me in so many ways. I needed to check my heart this morning as God spoke these words deep into my soul.
Never forget Who you represent. Never forget Who should be seen in everything you say or do. Love should be the hanger for which your garments are draped. Everything hangs on love…and when you have it, your clothing will show it.
