Focus

Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you.

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Read

Colossians 3:1-11 (NRSV)

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

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Reflect

At Bethel University, we have a large group of international students that are actively involved in the life of the campus. For the past few years, we’ve had a relatively high proportion of Congolese women among them. One of the marks of their culture is a high emphasis on fashion and elaborately patterned clothing. In fact, they hosted a fashion show on campus just a few years ago and invited the Bethel community to wear African clothing and dance to the music of their nation. We danced and sang all night and thoroughly enjoyed our ascent into the height of human creation and celebration.

There is something about a fashion show that seems to bring people to a higher plane. As a blue-collar Presbyterian, I have always deemed fashion such a vain enterprise; an effort in the futility of a totally depraved individual. In other words, no matter how well we may dress we can’t hide the fact that we need redemption. I lean on Isaiah when speaking to a hypocritical people comparing their righteousness to that of “filthy rags.” Yet, Paul seems to indicate that clothing is a useful analogy when describing our sanctified state.

In this passage, I imagine Paul as a co-host on What Not to Wear going through our closet. Of course, most everything must go. The clothes we’ve been wearing out of comfort and utility do very little to exemplify the state of our recreated soul. Paul is desperate to see us rise to reflect this glorified state outwardly. The thing about a makeover is that we must be willing to see our flaws and agree that they are inhibiting our external and perhaps even our internal beauty. There are some things that Paul exclusively prohibits from our heavenly apparel. Yet, while each prohibition is a reminder of what we should not do it is also a reminder of what heavenly apparel looks like. We are called to replace the cloak of anger with patience and long-suffering; the shoes of malice with peace; the allure of fornication with self-sacrificial love for our spouses and others. Once we begin to wear the clothes of this newly inherited style we are able to see at once the beauty of its design. It is a grand reveal, a walk down the runway, and an altogether glorious celebration for us and those watching.

John Calvin once said that “We shall never be clothed with the righteousness of Christ except we first know assuredly that we have no righteousness of our own.” Let us ask ourselves today, what do my spiritual “clothes” look like? Where are the edges worn and tattered? Am I still holding onto that favorite outfit in spite of God’s call to get rid of it? Have I asked to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ?

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Pray

God, show us when we’ve remained in the grave clothes. Give us a glimpse of your glory and forgive us when we poorly reflect it. Remind us of our worth in your eyes and help us show others the beauty you see in us. Amen.

Go with God.