Dress Up

Ever wish you had a wardrobe assistant? Someone who would pick outfits, coordinate accessories and organize your closet? Someone who would weed out the acid-washed jeans because you never really are ever going to wear, (or fit into) them again...someone who would take one look at your attempt at a power suit and say, "Eh...not so much!" Will you agree that sometimes even a mirror will lie to you?

I was reading some scripture I really like in a new translation the other day. It's called "The Message". The comedian Tim Hawkins likes to say it's a "laid back" version of the Bible and I'll agree with that. But sometimes you need a different perspective on the words for it to hit your heart with a new zing.

Before we go there, can I bring up some memories for you to help prime the pump of your thought processes?

Do you remember your mom picking out your clothes and laying them out the night before the first day of school? Do you remember as a preteen running out the door for the bus only to be stopped by a certain pitch of your parent's voice using your first AND middle name because they wanted you to come back inside "right this very moment" and edit your outfit? How about a few years later and your friend decides to give you a makeover, complete with the latest hair and latest "what were you thinking" accessory? Or maybe you saw someone you liked and saw who they liked, and decided to become what you thought was a stylish (tho somewhat creepy) copy of them?

Skipping ahead some more years and you're engaged...and your fiance decides to pick out something in the store and gift it to you...it never fits because it's too small, and you can't see how they thought you'd ever wear something like that! Then after you're married and you get another similar item of clothing and it's too big...

You start to wonder if anyone has ever really known you at all.

So now I want to take you to Colossians 3:12-14 in The Message...

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

God knows everything about you and knows just what you need to put on every day. It's not the latest style, the wrong size or something that's on the What Not to Wear list. It's tailor-made, one of a kind and makes you glow. (Well, guys don't glow...I guess they smile more.)

Don't forget to put on Love every morning. Stop listening to what others tell you about yourself, and stop listening to those tapes in your head! And for goodness' sake get rid of the full length mirror! God made you and knows exactly how you're wired. It's all about Love...His Love for you.

But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. We can't afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger, waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and about! Romans 13:11-14 (MSG)