Romans 13:14
“Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ…”
I know that shopping for clothes isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. So what does it mean to clothe yourself with Christ?
Galatians 3: 27
“…for all of you who were baptised into Christ has clothed yourselves with Christ.”
We’re born wearing our ‘birthday suit’ – being born again (of water and the Spirit) is to be clothed with Christ.
Tweed? Jeans? Dinner suit?
Colossians 3:12
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Five things about wearing Christ…
- It’s a very practical item of clothing It’s fit for purpose, just like a waterproof coat for the rain. Clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility etc is being dressed for following Jesus. Our new birthday suit has some very practical uses and we are to use them in very practical ways.
- This item of clothing fits everyone. You know the phrase – one size fits all. There are no excuses – it doesn’t fit – I don’t feel comfortable – I’m not good enough – God can’t be calling me. None of that is true. It fits you as well as it fits me. And it grows with you. A bit like one of those jumpers which grows every time you wash it.
- It comes in lots of different styles It’s not that there’s lots of different types of Jesus we can put on. Your expression of compassion or kindness can come in lots of forms. You are gifted to do things in certain ways and I am gifted in other ways. You may be good at one thing, I’ll be good at another. His clothing doesn’t restrict us, it frees us.
- It fits every occasion There is no need to ask, “what shall I wear?” or “I’ve got nothing to wear!” You need never have to ask that question again. When you go into a situation and ask, “What am I going to say?” “How am I going to behave?” “What must I do?” Be kind, humble, compassionate, think about the other person. It fits every occasion.
- It’s rarely in fashion In a society that says, “me first”, wealth, status, power… This item of clothing is about putting the other person first, generosity, the first shall be last and the last shall be first.
Wear your new birthday suit with pride – out of fashion but beautiful.
What a lovely modern sermon; makes one stop and think and help to understand what life is all about. Taking so much for granted in our daily lives, but really just being ones self and recognizing others needs as well as our own is so much less restrictive if we can all take something from this Sermon. Sharing and Caring and recognition of our own daily lives.
LikeLike