Daily Devotions – Putting on God’s Clothes

Daily Devotions – Putting on God’s Clothes

 

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

When you get ready for your wedding you might put on a white dress or a black tux. For Halloween, you might wear a scary mask or vampire teeth. Going to the beach or the lake you put on your swimsuit and some flip-flops. Paul uses the imagery of getting dressed to illustrate how Christians should “clothe” themselves for the daily life that God has called them to live as His “hidden” missionaries in the world. So what should we put on? Compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, trustworthy companionship, forgiveness, love, thankfulness and the peace that comes from following the risen Christ. These things sound nice but are rarely the things we celebrate, yet they are exactly what God celebrates. Let us pray that these are the clothes that we “put on” today and every day as we live “hidden” lives following Jesus and sharing His love.