{"id":29340,"date":"2020-12-05T03:30:15","date_gmt":"2020-12-05T11:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=29340"},"modified":"2020-12-04T13:24:37","modified_gmt":"2020-12-04T21:24:37","slug":"december-5-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2020\/12\/05\/december-5-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"December 5, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cI put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Job 29:14<\/p>\n

What Are You Wearing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Walk His Way Revisited<\/em><\/p>\n

In the December, 2014, Reader\u2019s Digest, I read the story of the man who won the role of Santa Claus in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular some twenty-eight years ago; he has been playing the part ever since. It changed him as a person in spectacular ways. For many years, when he would wear the Santa suit, he would act in a Santa-like way: good, kind, open, listening, helpful. He also played the part of Ebenezer Scrooge, but Scrooge was written out of the show after four years, and Santa remained. Why? No one wanted to come backstage after the show to talk to Scrooge. Everyone wanted to talk to Santa. Nobody cared about Scrooge. Everybody cared about Santa.<\/p>\n

Eventually, the man became Santa-like all year long, whether he wore the costume or not. He embodied the character. He hugged wounded soldiers and let them cry on his shoulder. He helped homeless people with genuine compassion. His heart was opened to childlike wonder and joy. After a terribly painful childhood, he believed in goodness again. Even when he wasn\u2019t Santa in appearance, he was Santa in character.<\/p>\n

Whether or not your family celebrates anything to do with Santa, there is a spiritual principle at work in the example of this man\u2019s changed life.<\/p>\n

Romans 13:14 says, \u201cPut on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Put on Jesus. When we put on clothes, we are covered by them. What is hidden by the clothes can\u2019t (and shouldn\u2019t) be seen, because the clothes are the prominent feature. Job\u2019s words in our opening Scripture imply this \u201cwearing\u201d may be more literal than we think!<\/p>\n

Put Jesus in our thoughts. Put Jesus in our tone of voice and in our choice of words. Put Jesus on our face. Put Jesus in our touch. Be completely covered and surrounded by Jesus, as if we were dunked underwater: \u201cFor as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ\u201d\u00a0<\/em>(Galatians 3:27). Soak Him in at every opportunity. Be completely immersed.<\/p>\n

When we realize all the ways we can put on Christ, we will be changed inside. We will embody His truths, His kindness, His love, His compassion. When we \u201cwear\u201d Christ, we have His eyes, His ears, His heart. This, like clothing, is what people will see; this is what will draw them to the Father. May He be glorified in us!<\/p>\n

\u201cLord, we desire to \u201cput on Christ\u201d so that You are the most visible thing about us. Change our inner man until we become like You. In Jesus\u2019 name, Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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