Clothes...

Colossians 3:12-17 "Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

How many of us can truly say we put on these clothes? Clothes of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience? I for one do not. If you know me, you know I do like to wear cute/beautiful clothes. :-) One thing is certain, God this week has been dressing me like a little baby in humility. He's reminding me of my failure, or not so much failure, but lack of perfection and holiness. He's saying, "Kristin your clothes look like knock-off rags to me." (I've never been big on brands, but it works well for this application)

www.bible.lifeway.com has a link for the KJV with Strong's. There you can find many definitions and root means of words in Scripture. The Greek word for on ("Put on...") is "the sense of sinking into a garment." I think often I waste time running around in circles, wondering and worrying. "God why can't I just learn to be patient with others?" "God why am I so judgmental?" "God why am I so selfish and ungrateful sometimes? You have blessed me sooo much!" I fall over and God comes to my side to comfort me and clothes me better than any of my "knock-off rags" ever could.

Picture this:
"Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean,
was given her to wear.""

Praise Him! Even if your not a bride or soon to be bride, you can sense the beauty of God readying His bride-the church-in the clothes He has prepared. I want to encourage you all right now to look at the expectations you hold for yourself (and second what you hold for others). What are your motives? Why does it have to be done perfectly? Does it really have to get done today or this week? God gently reminded me multiple times this week that my expectations are far too high. God alone is perfect and I am not. My weaknesses allow for His glory and hand to be visible. Just like Adam and Eve in the garden, my sin makes me feel shame. Quickly, God runs to my side and clothes in my need even when I don't deserve it.

Matthew 6:28-30; 33

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?... But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."