The Reflection Of What You Wear
Our culture is influenced greatly by marketing, so our outer appearance can often determine are social status. As a youth I was all into fashion, I wanted my clothes to define what kind of person I was, so once I started working at the age of 14 the majority of my money was spent on that. Growing up in a small town clothing stores was limited so I would drive far three hours to Seattle to find the latest fads. The greatest thrill was wearing a new outfit and being complimented. I was voted best dressed in my class Senior year 1993 and it was actually a big deal to me. How shallow! Yet, that is the culture of America.
Thank God I now understand that character far outweighs outward appearance. Sad thing is some churches still operate like the world and are more like a fashion show than a house of prayer. I still like to dress good at times, not to impress people, but simply because I like what I wear, it is all a matter of the heart. I no longer can afford buying the kind of clothes I use too for I am no longer single and my life can't just be about myself. So my closet isn't piling up, I try to just have enough clothes to fit the different occasions of life and the different seasons, I buy new clothes when the old ones are worn and need to be replaced.
What I desire above anything else is what Colossians chapter 3 explains how to be clothed with more and more of Christ. What we gaze upon is what we absorb and therefore reflect. So to be like Christ is to set my sights on where He dwells. What I think upon is what forms my heart, so what I allow to go into my ear and eye gates will determine what shapes me. So If I am going to look different I must change what I see and hear. I must shift from gazing on the things of earth too the things of Heaven. To know the things of Heaven takes knowing the written word (logos) and experiencing the living Word (rhema).
Change does not come from our ability, it is grace from God through the power of the Holy Spirit. What one sets their affections on they become, so with new desires comes new direction. Since God has given us a heart for Him we naturally begin losing the desire for sin. It is a process and doesn't happen over night, yet at least with me the majority of my sinful activities left when I got saved simply because I lost the desire for them.
Daily we must choose to worship our Lord for it is in His presence that we are transformed. Just like we usually dress ourselves shortly after we wake up, we need to praise and worship our Lord and as we do so we are clothed from above. We now become spirit beings, no longer distinguished by male/female or ethnicity, Christ is all that matters. The character that comes forth from those whom reflect Christ are: tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, peace, and most importantly love which unites us together (vs. 12-15). From our mouth will come the ability to teach and counsel with wisdom, singing praise and thanksgiving from our mouths. So in all we do and say we become true representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 16-18).
Thank God I now understand that character far outweighs outward appearance. Sad thing is some churches still operate like the world and are more like a fashion show than a house of prayer. I still like to dress good at times, not to impress people, but simply because I like what I wear, it is all a matter of the heart. I no longer can afford buying the kind of clothes I use too for I am no longer single and my life can't just be about myself. So my closet isn't piling up, I try to just have enough clothes to fit the different occasions of life and the different seasons, I buy new clothes when the old ones are worn and need to be replaced.
What I desire above anything else is what Colossians chapter 3 explains how to be clothed with more and more of Christ. What we gaze upon is what we absorb and therefore reflect. So to be like Christ is to set my sights on where He dwells. What I think upon is what forms my heart, so what I allow to go into my ear and eye gates will determine what shapes me. So If I am going to look different I must change what I see and hear. I must shift from gazing on the things of earth too the things of Heaven. To know the things of Heaven takes knowing the written word (logos) and experiencing the living Word (rhema).
Change does not come from our ability, it is grace from God through the power of the Holy Spirit. What one sets their affections on they become, so with new desires comes new direction. Since God has given us a heart for Him we naturally begin losing the desire for sin. It is a process and doesn't happen over night, yet at least with me the majority of my sinful activities left when I got saved simply because I lost the desire for them.
Daily we must choose to worship our Lord for it is in His presence that we are transformed. Just like we usually dress ourselves shortly after we wake up, we need to praise and worship our Lord and as we do so we are clothed from above. We now become spirit beings, no longer distinguished by male/female or ethnicity, Christ is all that matters. The character that comes forth from those whom reflect Christ are: tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, peace, and most importantly love which unites us together (vs. 12-15). From our mouth will come the ability to teach and counsel with wisdom, singing praise and thanksgiving from our mouths. So in all we do and say we become true representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 16-18).
