Lent Day 22

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,

 clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

I was at a retail store recently standing in line to return an item.  There was a lady in front of me trying to do the same thing but there was a disagreement between her and the employee on the return policy and the lady was not backing down.  She got very loud, angry in her voice, defensive in her posture, she even slammed her purse on the counter to emphasize her disagreement.   The employee couldn’t have been more than 16-17 years old and was remaining very pleasant and smiling but you could see she was feeling attacked.

As I was watching, I noticed the appearance of the lady.  She was dressed very nicely and had obviously spent time in planning her outfit as everything matched from her dress, shoes, scarf, jewelry, and purse.  Her hair and make up were nicely done.  It was obvious she had spent that morning getting ready to present herself as beautiful, but the moment she started talking, she let ugliness in her heart escape and her image was blown.  I don’t think anyone in line that day thought of her as beautiful, because she forgot to dress the most important part, her heart.  She forgot that morning to spend time with Jesus and allow Him to fill her heart with love and kindness.  She forgot Solomon's warning

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.

She forgot the strategy Paul gave us in Colossians to help us live as God intends us to live.

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with

compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Paul reminds us that we are God’s chosen people and we are holy and dearly loved.  And because we are holy and dearly loved by God, so should we love others.  In all we do, we should present ourselves as holy and loved so that those around us will see the love of God in our lives as a testimony to His grace and love.    We do this, not by jewelry or clothes of an outward appearance, but rather through compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  These traits come from God through the Holy Spirit working in us. He clothes us in these when we believe in Jesus Christ.  In order for these to grow in us, we must grow in Him to know Him, love Him to receive from Him. 

This morning check your heart before you leave your house.  Spend time with God and allow the Spirit to clothe you so strongly in His compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience so that all you meet today have no doubt you were dressed by God from the inside out.