“…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience…
and over all these virtues put on love,
 which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14

Our identity in Christ means we should look, sound, think, and behave differently.  It’s all about what we choose to wear — and that has nothing to do with designer labels or fabric blends.

Paul instructs the Colossians — and by extension, us — to put on:

• Compassion
• Kindness
• Humility
• Gentleness
• Patience

Take a moment to look over and pray over that list. Does it describe you? Does it describe you in your role as mom … teacher … wife … friend … daughter … neighbor? A few probing questions for self-assessment:

• Am I compassionate as I welcome the friends of my children into our home?
• Does kindness permeate my relationships with my neighbors?
• Am I humble as I work through challenges in my marriage?
• Am I gentle and patient when teaching math, grammar, science or any subject that is challenging for me and/or my child?

I love the imagery of clothing ourselves with these traits. I may not naturally be or feel compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, or patient, but I can choose to put on those traits. As women of God, there are areas we know what is right and must choose to do (or put on) what is right and, hopefully, it will eventually feel right. We make conscious,  deliberate choices, prompted by Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

As women of God, there are areas we know what is right and must choose to do (or put on) what is right and, hopefully, it will eventually feel right. Click To Tweet

After we are all dressed with these beautiful traits — and did you notice that three of the five are listed as Fruits of the Spirit? (see Galatians 5:22-23) — we add the final accessory. It’s the perfect one because it ties the whole outfit together beautifully: Love.

Love is listed first in the Fruit of the Spirit cluster. Love is why Jesus left heaven, took on our death sentence, and opened the door for our salvation. Love makes it possible to keep wearing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. If love leads out, the rest will naturally follow.

The challenging, overarching self-assessment question is: Do I really love my children, my husband, and my neighbors? And, if I do, does what I’m wearing reflect that?

Sister Friend, is it time for some wardrobe adjustment? What are you wearing?

 

 

Want to join us as we focus on Colossians 3 this month?
Visit last week’s Sunday Soaking to download printable memorization cards for all 24 verses,
and this month’s installment of the Write The Word series for a printable bookmark to guide daily scripture journaling.