Have you ever headed out the door on your way to work, the grocery store, or the park and realized that you had the wrong clothes on? Maybe the weather was warmer than you thought, and you ended up peeling off your coat or sweatshirt. Maybe it’s colder than you thought, and you wished your short sleeves were long sleeves or even a coat.

In Colossians 3, the Apostle Paul encourages us to wear the proper clothes. You see, before we became Christ-followers, our spiritual wardrobe (referred to as our earthly nature, old self) consisted of lust, evil desires, greed, anger, malice, and filthy language, to name a few pieces (Colossians 3:5-9). This is the way we lived, acted and treated others.

When we became a Christ-follower, we received a brand new wardrobe (referred to as the new self). This new wardrobe we have been given consists of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love (Colossians 3:12-14). This is now how we live, act, and treat others.

Immediately upon receiving Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we took off our old clothes (old self) with their practices. We put on our new clothes (new self) in their place. Our new threads have been custom-made by Jesus and fit perfectly.

We need to make sure that we are wearing the proper clothes every time we run out of the house. That’s why in verse 5 of Colossians 3, Paul tells us to kill off everything connected with our old wardrobe. Get rid of it. Don’t ever entertain a thought or action related to those old clothes.

Instead, first, remember that you belong to God. He has set us apart for His purpose. We are God’s instruments to do His work and speak out for Him. We tell people of the night-and-day difference He made for us – from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted (see 1 Peter 3:9). Second, because God has called you to live this new life of love, wear the clothes that God has picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be quick to forgive people. Forgive them the exact same way God has forgiven you. And NEVER forget to put on the garment of love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never leave home without it.

Putting these clothes on takes practice. Putting these clothes on takes intentionality. Putting these clothes on pleases God the Father and our Master Jesus Christ. When we wear the proper clothes, we act like God, we look like God, and we reveal the character of God to those who come across our path of life.

Pastor Tom