Imagine a life primarily preoccupied with fashion, body size and outward appearances - Sounds prideful and shallow, right? Well, I was guilty as charged. Bizarre as it seems, I actually kept a closet full of small clothes in my guestroom. I constantly wished I’d find the perfect new diet which would magically change me back into my previously slender
self. Poof!
As much as I’d like to deny it, some things are not meant to be resuscitated, but rather altered, like the amazing way I was transformed, when Jesus finally got my attention. The Lord waited for just the right time to recreate me. Before I met Him, I had no clue what I needed. But, luckily for me, Jesus Christ came into my life and helped me to quit playing tug-a-war with the spandex! Thankfully, God loves even some of us more extreme types. Go figure. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun.)
Colossians 3:12-14 tells us about some pretty gorgeous attire. "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one
another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Did you notice that phrase, “over all?” (Not to be confused with “overalls” – that’s an entirely different look!)
God instructs us all to put on love.It’s not something we fall into, like a free-fall off a cliff into the ocean. And love doesn’t fall on us, like a bucket of cold water over the head. Putting on love is a deliberate decision. It’s like choosing what to
wear and then dressing for the day. There are personal things to remember when getting ready. Things that you’d rather others not see. You know, unmentionables, like underwear or deodorant. (Gosh, I can’t believe I just mentioned those!) But, and this is the super-neat part, the child of God gets to put on “God’s love” and wear it so that His love is the very first thing that others see when they look at you. They’ll notice that you seem to sparkle and smile a lot.
Even ignoring the God sparkles for now, I can still stand almost comatose, carefully contemplating the contents of my closet. (Besides being an outrageously contrived tongue-twister), this contemplation is still not always a happy task for me. I bet you’ve already guessed that the guest room closet has been cleared out and my current bedroom closet holds, once again, some clothes that are a bit snug. Fitting my “current version.” is ever-challenging.
Not to worry, though: Pride has a way of simmering down when thrown into the refiner’s fire. God’s not especially into our clothes, but He does want to supernaturally transform us through faith in Jesus. We can evolve, incrementally, into more loving people who shine with the joyful assurance that God grants whoever would earnestly seek him.
Whoever you are, whatever shape you are currently in, you can still rely on His perfect love every time. You see, when it’s from God, there are no physical qualifications or strings attached. He gives freely to all His children. And, (drum roll), His love even comes in an expandable fit!
Yeah, come to think of it, His garment of salvation grows right along with me. Christ’s unmatchable act of sacrifice wraps around me no matter what, so that even in my swollen state, (head included), He’s got me covered.
It’s a most luxurious fit. But the absolutely incredible part is that my Savior calls me His own“beautiful bride!” You gotta love it!
In Isaiah 61:10, the bible tells us what the well-dressed child of God is sporting these days: "He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness." I know one thing, I’ve
never had to squirm and fight my way into God’s garments. (You know, I’ve always suspected that spandex is not of God!)
Anyway, my garments of salvation and my robe of righteousness came straight from God, through the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. It’s Jesus’ robe I get to wear. I must say, I feel like a real winner in it.
Love is the ultimate accessory. It just kind of pulls it all together. Christ’s robe to cover me, God’s great love within me and His Holy Spirit to fill me, these garments surpass anything I could ever come up with.
(And Barbie has nothing on me.)
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