What Are You Wearing?
Verse of the Day
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Today’s Devotional
What are you wearing right now? As in, your clothes? I am wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. If you came into my house right now, that is what you would see on my body. Do you notice people’s clothes?
The above verse comes from a passage in one of Paul’s letters. He tells the Colossians to “clothe” themselves with compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love. So how can I wear these precious virtues?
Our clothing is what people can see on us. Our virtues are what people can see about us. So if I am to follow Paul’s instructions, then people should be able to SEE and HEAR certain virtues in my life. What do my actions, my words, my attitudes, my facial expressions, and my body language tell other people about me? Because according to Paul, those things – my actions, words, attitudes, facial expressions and body language – are my spiritual clothing. Those are the things that people can see. Like clothing on our physical body. Whether we like it or not.
There may be times when our “clothing” doesn’t feel just right. Or maybe we don’t know what exactly we are supposed to be “wearing”. But Paul sums it up with love. Read today’s verse again. “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Are. We. Showing. Love?
Because if we are, then we are wearing the right thing. And if we don’t know what love looks like in a certain situation, then I believe this prayer (borrowed from A.A.) is one of the most powerful things we can pray.
God, please give me the knowledge of Your will in this situation, and the power to carry that out.
Because sometimes the most loving thing you can do for yourself is to admit that you don’t know what love looks like. I believe that showing us how to love is something that God is always willing to do.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
What spiritual clothing did you see in someone else yesterday?
What are you wearing spiritually today?
Which virtue from Paul’s list do you most struggle with? (compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love)
How can you change your actions or words or attitude or facial expressions or body language TODAY to change your “clothing”?