You’re Not Wearing That, Are You?

I must have stood in front of my closet for fifteen minutes or more trying to decide what to wear. It shouldn’t have been that difficult of a decision, but this time of year, it actually is. With forty-degree weather in the morning and seventy-degree weather in the afternoon, choosing the proper clothing becomes more than just a decision. It becomes a task. Pants or skirt? How many layers? Short sleeves or long sleeves? Boots or sandals? The choices are overwhelming and what would normally be a quick, easy decision ends up taking more time, thought and energy than I wish to devote to it.

Thankfully, when it comes to “getting dressed” spiritually, the Bible makes it very clear what we’re supposed to put on. The only decision is whether or not we will heed its advice. Check out some of the instructions God gives concerning our daily spiritual wardrobe:

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. – Galatians 3:27

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. – Romans 13:14

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. – Ephesians 6:11

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. – Romans 13:12

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. – Ephesians 4:21-24

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. – I Thessalonians 5:8

But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. – Colossians 3:8-14

See what I mean? God not only specifies what we should wear, but He also tells us what we shouldn’t wear. The Christian life is one of trading out those filthy rags of anger, deceit and similar sins in favor of the armor of God, charity and all things holy. The choice is not difficult and no matter the weather, this spiritual wardrobe is always appropriate.