Perhaps you might remember
flipping through magazines, back in the day, especially in waiting rooms. I do,
and usually there was a fashion magazine or some type of Hollywood glamour
magazine that would catch my attention.
It was a bit fun to flip through the pages, especially when it came to the fashion features. Typically, two celebrities were showcased wearing expensive, high style dresses, created by a famous designer. Photos of each celebrity donning the same outfit were featured with a captioned photo asking, “Who Wore it Better?” You were the judge. The better question might have been, “Does this flatter her?”
Often, there was one winner, but sometimes it was a little hard to decide. Maybe it was the dress itself. But sometimes neither looked that great. No matter, though, as each star was portraying some type of “look.” Essentially, the appeal was to make us want to look like them.
If you have ever watched award shows on television, stars are interviewed on the red carpet and a pertinent question asked to each star is, “Who are you wearing?” Meaning, who designed what you are wearing?
In time, you might see these designs appear in the retail scene, making a form of them attainable for the average consumer. A fashion trend was created. Now, as trends come and go, sometimes the styles presented were not, and are not the best for us.
The same is true when we decide what to wear, or “put on” in our lives, each day. Are we choosing to wear compassion, kindness, patience, love; or is it anger, malice, or slander? If we were featured in a magazine, what would we look like?
We might not be seen in an actual magazine, or walking the red carpet, but we do have a walk in our lives. We are in a “magazine,” and our designer is Christ. We choose what we are going to wear each day and what we wear points people to our “Designer.” The Designer of our life. The question then becomes, are we trying to flatter ourselves, or Christ? Or, who are we wearing?
Scripture tells us to reflect the image of Christ, to put off our old self, and to put on our new self. Here’s what is spelled out for us:
But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24
It gets more specific in Colossians 3:8-10, where Paul tells us what not to wear…
But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.
And then, what to put on:
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:12-17
Each day, we have a choice of what to put on. We decide how to dress for work, school, a special event, or a casual outing. We put on things that make us look good, paying attention to the accessories and details.
Next time, as you prepare for the day, and you put on the things that will make you look good, keep in mind that what you wear is not a way to flatter your “self,” but rather, to flatter the Lord.
Put on the attributes found in Scripture. Note that the most important of all attributes is love. There will be no question about how we look when we put on Christ, and our look will be complete if we follow what the Scriptures say.
So how do we take off the old and put on the new? It might be a little like going through your closet, removing the clothing that does not serve you any longer. Spending time in Scripture will help you find your true identity in Christ. The more you “put on” the truth of His Word, you will be transformed. Having a teachable and humble heart is a grace-filled place to start.
Pray-
Lord, I know my identity is found in you, and nothing compares with this. Clothe me with your perfect design. Forgive me for putting on things that flatter me instead of you. Keep my attitude and heart pure and help me to put on things that are soft and kind. Fill me with your gentleness and compassion, wearing “Clothing” that helps me reflect who you are. Let my heart reveal to others the beauty of who you are.
· Remember who you belong to.
God designed you perfectly.
I
praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your
works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Psalm 139:14
· Stand in the truth! You are
a new creation because of Jesus!
My
old self has been crucified with Christ.[a] It is no longer I who live,
but
Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the
Son
of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
· Remove the things that are
not a reflection of your true identity.
Since
you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that
comes
from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former
way
of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the
Spirit
renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature,
created
to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Ephesians 4:21-24
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