Spiritual Clothing

Spiritual Clothing

Q: According to Colossians 3, you should clothe yourself with

• a. tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
• b. good works, joy, goodness, faith, and self-control.
• c. acts of kindness, mercy, faithfulness, and peace.

One of the first things you do in the morning is get dressed. You may have a routine you follow for picking out your clothes and putting them on. You might plan ahead the night before, or you might just grab the nearest thing. If you’re homeschooled, you may even stay in your pajamas.

God has clothing he wants you to put on also. It’s not the same as what you wear to school. These clothes are characteristics God wants you to wear. That means being covered with them just as you are covered with your jeans and shirt. Those characteristics are tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

How can you clothe yourself with those things? Each morning as you get dressed, remind yourself of the list. Make sure you understand what each characteristic means. Ask God to show you specific ways to practice these positive qualities each day at home, at school, on your sports team, during your music lesson, at church, and everywhere else you go.

Each time you are faced with a decision, ask yourself which choice will best allow you to demonstrate mercy or patience. Which option helps you be more kind or gentle? Thinking that way may not come easily at first, but if you ask God to help you do this, soon clothing yourself with these things will be as natural as putting on your school clothes each morning.

For You

Pick one characteristic from the list—tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience—and think of two ways to practice it this week.

Answer: a

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.   Colossians 3:12

(The Whole Story: Colossians 3:12-17)