Getting dressed 15th April 2008

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him”. Colossians 3: 12- 17


“Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”.

As we find our confidence in who we are in God’s sight then we can start to be truly counter cultural. In a society that generally values the making and keeping of targets and efficiency over taking time and valuing people: a society that values standing up for one’s rights and getting the best one can over humility; and a society where if you’re kept waiting for more than two minutes in a queue an apology is considered necessary; it is in such a society that Paul challenges us to put on these virtues.

We are told to clothe ourselves with these virtues; this gives the impression we can choose to show these expressions of who we are or not. We can choose to act when we someone struggling, we can choose to speak kindly when someone is irritating us and to take others into account as much as ourselves. We can choose not to be rough in our speech or dealings with others, we can choose to give others space and room to be and move, not pushing ourselves forward.

I don’t know about you but I don’t find compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience things that come naturally. It is as I become more conscious of God’s love that these attitudes start to grow in me but Paul here encourages us to clothe ourselves in them. It is as if we shouldn’t go out without them. These things like clothes will protect our dignity and keep us warm but more than this, as our clothes say things about us, so these virtues reflect who we are, God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.

Which ones are you wearing today?

Holy God, may compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience be wrapped around me today and be the over-riding factors in the way I go about my life in your world today. Help me live as your chosen, holy, loved child. Amen