What are You Wearing today?!

When we meet and greet someone, we see very little of their actual body – apart, that is, from their face and hands. What we see the most of is their clothing! So often we make an assessment of someone based on what they are wearing. What they are wearing is sometimes an extension of the image they want to present. We all know people who make a habit of paying special attention to some particular aspect of their clothing – they seem to have their personal dress code!

For some it’s a colour, maybe bright red or dark blue, that they like wearing best. For others it`s a particular style that they feel suits their personality, or a particular item of clothing, such as (for ladies) their hand-bag or their shoes. Some people, men and women, are always very smart. Whereas there are others who would never want to look particularly smart and deliberately dress down, sometimes to the extent that what they feel comfortable in, could be considered by others as being rather slovenly. The fact is, whether we like it or not, our personal dress code gives out a signal to others, which can be a reflection of the person we are on the inside.

And just as our physical clothing can be seen as a message to others, telling them something about ourselves, our spiritual clothing can do exactly the same thing. Paul was hitting a very big nail firmly on the head when he drew the attention of the Colossians to the fact that our spiritual clothing is a reflection of our spiritual nature. And the important question, for each one of us to ask and answer for ourselves, is this: Does our spiritual clothing reflect the nature, the character and love of Father God, as was so wonderfully demonstrated to us in the life of His Son, Jesus?

One of the reasons why Jesus came was to show us what the Father is like. His spiritual clothing was a perfect replica of the character of Father God himself. God has commissioned us to be salt and light in a fallen and spiritually very dark world, so that others will have the chance of discovering what God is really like and be drawn to Him for themselves.

So Paul urged the Colossians to wear spiritual clothing that demonstrated such things as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. All of these attributes are the outworking of God’s Love in our hearts and we can only demonstrate them through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He will show us what to wear so that we can become true representatives to others of the character of God Himself. Believers should have a spiritual dress code that marks them out as followers of Jesus!

Prayer: Help me, Lord, to be constantly aware of how important it is that my spiritual clothing truly reflects Your character. I invite You, Holy Spirit, to so dwell in me that every day I will be able to listen to your voice and as a result grow to be more like Jesus. I want my clothing to be a true witness to the love of God so that others may want to come to know Him as well. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.