DaySpring Daily Word of Inspiration: Colossians 3:12 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Good Monday morning all. We hope your weekend was enjoyable and full of rest and relaxation. Now it’s time to feed our spirits and implement God’s word into our lives in a practical and realistic way.
People have a misconception of the Christian. They view them as overly aggressive, radical and even hypocrites. Why is that? Have you ever wondered why whenever someone says they’re a Christian people get tight around them? Or if you say you don’t do something because of your Christian beliefs, people want to challenge that? I find it’s weird that people rarely treat Muslim’s like this or Hasidic Jews like this – they just respect them and say “oh ok, that’s your belief”.
I think this is in part related to the dedication these other groups have to their religion. They not only believe it, but they live it passionately and for all to see. The stand firm whether right or wrong on the point and are unshakable in many instances.
What about the Christian? SOME Christians make the faith look unattractive and like a failure because of our own lack of commitment and dedication to Jesus Christ and his teachings. People see us acting, conducting ourselves and behaving in a manner that isn’t consistent with the life that they have a small notion of – which is a life patterned after Jesus Christ. This doesn’t show people that there is something different about you; on the contrary, you look just like them. The worse part of that is the mindset which develops; the thinking that if this how someone acts with Christ, then there’s no need for me to change! Hope is officially been tainted.
Today’s passage reminds us that in taking this Christian journey, we are to clothe ourselves in something that looks different to the world, but to do it daily – just like when you put on your clothes.
As examples of Christ, there should be attributes that reflection the image, personality and teachings of God’s word. Being fitted with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience and blameless before all (not sinless) helps a nation of skeptics become a potential body of believers or at least people who respect your God and the Jesus in you!
What have you clothed yourself in today? Is it the same old you? The same dirty minded, filthy mouthed, angered and embitter person you’ve always been and the person people know you as OR did you put on your graciously given clothes that showcase confident, faith, commitment and obedience to God’s word?
Today we pray that you not only take off your old, nasty clothes but you burn them and finally rid yourself of them. God has a new and better outfit waiting for you. Become one of God’s trendsetters that others mimic and copy because of the clothes you wear. Be encouraged to get “Jesus Fresh” on everybody…… make God look good on you! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!