“Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh.” Romans 13:14

 Getting Dressed

What to wear? What to wear? The appropriate thing, not too tight, somewhat professional, but comfortable. I would like to go to work in my comfortable sweats, but definitely not appropriate. What’s in my closet?

Getting dressed physically is important—wearing the right thing. But there is a getting dressed that far exceeds the physical: getting dressed in Christ. I think of the privilege the Word of God talks about, that we get to put on Christ. His unimaginable, intense love for us compelled Him to come to earth as a man, taking on the sins of the world on the cross, enduring incredible physical, emotional, and physical pain, and then dying; and in victory He rose again, overcoming sin and death! I’m taken captive in His incredible selfless love.

We have the privilege as children of God to wear Him in all we do and say—to have the right mindset, attitude, and desires that come by spending time with our Savior each day. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, in prayer and in reading the Word of God, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and can put off the things of the flesh. Then….

Colossians 3:12 (Amplified): “Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [We are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and longsuffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]…14 And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].

 Wow! Pretty intense clothing, yet through faith and obedience, we can be clothed princesses to do His will well. It is my desire to “cast off darkness, and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12). The Colossians verse describes what this looks like, but it’s the longsuffering through the day that trips me up. I need to be well-oiled in the Holy Spirit to make it. I want to love people and think the best, being a positive and encouraging reflection of my Lord, and I definitely need His wisdom to say and do the right thing. Staying dressed continually in His love and grace means constant, pure, fellowship with the Lord. Then I am given joy in the mundane tasks and endurance for actions of rude people I may encounter (may I not be one of them).

With worship in my heart and His presence all around, I’m dressed in His armor, righteousness and truth (Ephesians 6:11-18). The day is at hand and I’m prepared and ready!

“Oh Lord, what a privilege it is to represent You at home, work, community, church, and in all things and places You call us to be. Let us put on the Lord Jesus Christ today and make no provision for the flesh. Amen.”