A few days ago, Dave took me shopping. I needed some new clothes; some things just don’t fit right anymore.
I thought I could avoid the stores by shopping on-line so I ordered a dress, it looked cute but when it got here it just didn’t fit right. I knew I needed to bite the bullet and go shopping, in a real store. Did I tell you that I don’t like to shop – it’s one of my least favorite things to do.
When we got to the store Dave said he was going to the men’s section. That was good – I knew it would take me a while to find what I was looking for and I didn’t want him to become impatient.
By the time he came back I had already been to the dressing room once and had found a few things that I liked and that fit. Other items I had put on the “go back” rack. No, no, no they didn’t fit right at all. Some things I had selected were way too big and others were painfully small, even though the size on the tag was the same. Yes, everything had to be tried on to make sure it was the right fit.
That shopping adventure was what I thought of this morning when I read these verses:
“But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:8-14 NLT
In the spiritual sense some things just don’t look good on us – things like anger, rage, resentment, gossip, lying, bitterness, etc.
We have been given a better wardrobe; it fits perfectly because it was tailor-made for us by Christ. Our new wardrobe includes mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, joy, forgiveness and the one article that makes every outfit complete, love.
“ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” Ephesians 4:23-24 NLT
Now, it’s time to go through the “spiritual” closet and pull out those things that don’t fit anymore. Getting dressed for the day is much easier when we have the right fit!