Dress Your Best

One responsibility of life is the simple task of rising in the morning and getting dressed for the day.  Sometimes getting dressed is more troublesome than I would like it to be.  Decisions about what to wear can frustrate an otherwise beautiful morning. Questions to be considered such as, what is the weather like? Where am I going? Is it a dress up or dress down event? Do I need to wear comfortable shoes or will the cute shoes with the higher heel be tolerable? Feeling pressed for time, I end the great closet expedition with the sad fact that for all my considerations my decision will sadly come down to what fits. My choice was much simpler than I realized. 

Just as we have the responsibility each day of getting dressed physically, we also bear the responsibility as followers of Christ to “put on” his character traits, to be like Jesus.

Colossians 3:12 says it like this: Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  But above all these things put on Love, which is the bond of perfection.

There is no confusion here about what our character should look like when we walk out the doors on any given morning.  You don’t have to open your Bible and wonder about what to “put on” it is clearly written for us.  Our choice is whether or not we put it on.  Sometimes our decision to wear or not to wear something is based on our feelings for that day.  We need to be mindful that our decision to “put on” Christ each day should not be impulsively thrown on by the influence of our feelings.  Feelings are finicky and can change quickly. However; Christ like living is an honor that we are given to put on and wear for the world to see.  What your wearing makes a difference.  The World is watching, and above all we need to let the LOVE of God saturate everything we say and do.  It is the foundational garment that you cannot afford to be without. When we go out there should be no question about who we represent. 

What are you wearing today?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, teach me how to be more like you every day.  Forgive me for when I have chosen my own way over yours.  Let my love be authentic and without hypocrisy. In Jesus Name. Amen

Don't Take My Spot !

During the Christmas Season of 1998 Kurt and I were in our second pastorate in Victoria Texas.  I was a young pastor’s wife with big visions for our annual Christmas Dinner Theater production.   I was so blessed to be surrounded by a congregation of visually creative and imaginative people.  We sold tickets to the community, hosted a catered meal with a traditional Shabbat Stew and for 3 nights transformed our sanctuary into the Bethlehem Inn, everyone was in Character as we reenacted the glorious night of the Saviors birth. 

My friend, Rebecca, and co-conspirator for bringing the details of the evening to pass convinced Hobby Lobby to loan us pottery and stage props to bring the perfect ambiance to the evening.  The day we went to pick the items up I drove and she was in the passenger’s seat.  I drove around a bit looking for the perfect parking spot so we wouldn’t have to carry our items very far and just as I found the perfect spot and was waiting for it another car pulled around from the other side and pulled forward into my parking spot! He completely stole my spot! I rolled down my window and yelled.  I didn’t yell ugly words but I yelled all the same.  I told him I was gonna let him have it cause the Bible says to prefer your brother!  Rebecca laughed so hard at me; I can still see her laughing.  I had the right idea but my attitude had not quite caught up with my obedience to scripture. 

Romans 12:10 AMP says this:

Be devoted to one another with authentic brotherly affection as members of one family, give preference to one another in honor;

Philippians 2:3-4 NKJV says this:

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others. 

Scripture is very clear here about the character trait we should be exuding and it does not involve fulfilling our own interests at the cost of our brothers and sisters.  The enemy, Satan, loves to pervert the Gospel and he is in search of willing individuals to buy into his lies.  One of those lies is to convince people that the way to get ahead, or find fulfillment and purpose is to step over and above anyone or anything that gets in their way.  But the opposite is true, clearly noted here in scripture we are to prefer our brother and look out not only for ourselves but for the interests of others.

Philippians Chapter two goes on to give us the example of Christ who made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

This is our example; we are to be humble. In Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus teaches us Kingdom principles, that the way up is down, and that the way down is up.  This sounds completely backward but it is a powerful truth in humbleness.  This is a difficult concept for our human nature. Our sinful nature does not want to look out for others but for our own self.   And just like me on that day in the parking lot of Hobby Lobby I found it difficult to give up my claim to the prize parking spot.  I knew what the Word would have me do but the flesh did not give up easily. Submitting our self to Christ is a daily choice.

What will you Choose?

I encourage you today to allow this same mind that was in Christ Jesus be in you (Philippians 2:5). 

PRAYER:  Heavenly Father, forgive me for pride.  I willingly lay down my own selfish ambitions so that you may be glorified in me.  Let me have the same love as Christ. Change me by the power of your Spirit and give me the mind of Christ.  Not my will but yours be done.  In Jesus Name, Amen.