Dressed Right!

Dressed Right!

Colossians 3:12 KJV

[12] Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

The issue of dressing has always been quite a controversial one in the body of Christ. There are positions that uphold moderation in all things, whilst there are others who take the view that anything is permissible, as long as it covers the essentials and does not make you uncomfortable. These all sound nice, but I take the view that God has an opinion on the topic, and this is partly laid out in the verse above. First and foremost, it is identity that drives appearance and impact. Too many times, we have been focused on conforming people to our idea of what is right, while we forget that it is the inner conviction that needs to be in place first. We go on and on about how we look on the outside, and this is quite important too, but the start point is that which is on the inside. As someone very close to me once said, "there are some arguments that you do not need to make with someone who is born again". 

Reflect on this: the work that God does on the inside of a man will surely reflect on the outside of that man. The verse above is directed at 'the elect of God, holy and beloved'. This is not for just anyone, but for those who have been set apart by God, called to higher purposes, who know who they are, and are actively seeking to please the One who owns them. Be clear: Christianity is not a democracy; it is the rule of God, where the life of God reigns, and His will is the only possible direction. If I know who I am, whose I am, and where I am headed, there will be no confusion about my pursuits and priorities. The reason why there is so much controversy about the outward could be that we have not allowed the work of God take charge of our inner man. God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. I have to consciously and deliberately give Him access and control, so that He can do His work in me first, and then the benefits will flow out to bless other people. 

Note the features of my dressing: bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. None of these are physical items, but inner fruits of the presence of the Holy Spirit. You can dress up and look nice, but without the 'right dress', you will still be naked. You can buy and use expensive clothes, but it does not also mean that you are dressed right. Meekness and longsuffering are manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit; mercy is the bestowment of God and the outflow of a life that has responded to that which God bestows. Humility is the product of a life that knows that ALL he has is not a function of labour, but of grace and mercy, so there is no pride or self-sufficiency. With all the above in place, it will definitely reflect on the outside that the man is a child of God. Focus on the inside; deal with the inside; change the inside. The outward will definitely align. God's time of favour is here.