New Clothes

Read: Colossians 3

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

IN WORD

The Kingdom of God does not require uniforms. We’ll be dressed in robes of righteousness, of course; white is always “in” in the Kingdom. But we remain individuals with unique personalities, preferences, and styles. We have different gifts, different callings, and different demonstrations of the nature of Christ within us. We conform to one Person, but He expresses Himself through us in a dazzling variety of ways.

But that doesn’t mean our wardrobe is unlimited. Jesus doesn’t offer us the same old clothes we used to have. Where we once dressed ourselves in insecurity, a need to impress, competitiveness, shame, manipulation and control, and so much more, we are given a beautiful new wardrobe full of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. And honestly, we look better in the new clothes. Some people may not think so; the fashions of the Kingdom are a little off-trend for the world’s tastes. But their subdued elegance has the effect of tastefully standing out.

We are called to stand out—not just to admire the clothes of the Kingdom or to have them hanging in our closet, but to actually put them on and wear them in public. Regardless of the world’s dress code, these clothes are appropriate for any occasion because they were given to us by the King to wear in His Kingdom. As citizens of that realm, we are to have a certain style. It’s okay not to blend in. We have the amazing opportunity to dress ourselves in clothes that fit our new nature perfectly.

IN DEED

As you get dressed every morning, see yourself also putting on the new clothes of the Kingdom. Wear the royal attitudes daily. Let them adorn you beautifully, for all to see. And when you walk the red carpet of the Kingdom, no one will have to ask who made that dress or designed that tux. They’ll know. It all comes from the wardrobe of the King.

ADDITIONAL READING: Ephesians 4:20-24

[We] are not merely to mark time, waiting for God to step in and set right all that is wrong . . . but to model the new heaven and new earth.

PHILIP YANCEY