Back at the beginning of this Summer Series, the week beginning Sunday 30th May to be precise, we considered the theme of ‘Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. We reflected on the need to strip off various characteristics or attitudes that spoil life, such as anger, rage, malicious behaviour, slander, and dirty language.
So to round off this Summer series we look again at the same chapter 3 in Colossians to see what we need to put on once the old life that clothed us has been stripped away. Here are the bones of it:
You must clothe yourselves with tender–hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender–hearted 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.
v 12. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves …
I can’t for the life of me remember what time we were supposed to get up! What I do remember however was that we were expected on parade, properly dressed in uniform, at 7.30 am. Life in the Armed Forces had a pretty rigidly enforced discipline! And if you dared appear on parade not properly dressed …… !
No other option.
Paul stresses the same thing in our spiritual experience; the little word ‘must’ places us under an obligation. The beautiful life that he is describing is not an option; it is not something for special people, it is for everybody. We are all under the same obligation to put on the prescribed uniform which he is going on to describe. Can you imagine a young military recruit saying to himself ‘I don’t think I’ll bother with my hat this morning.’ No more can we imagine a Christian getting out of bed and saying ‘I don’t think I’ll bother with love today – it won’t matter if for once I’m just my grumpy self.’ Really?
The character-clothing that Paul describes is an obligation of love – God’s love for us. Holiness of character, the glorious style of living as a child of God, springs from God’s utterly inexplicable choice of us as His people. Our response to that choice is to say ‘yes’ to the putting on of these qualities. But it does not happen automatically; the Holy Spirit responds to our inner desire, strengthening our resolve to be God’s beautiful people.
Lord, I want to be covered with this new set of beautiful clothing. Empower me by your Holy Spirit to strive effectively in getting dressed in a fashion that honours you. AMEN
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