Dressed For The Occasion
- Gary Brooks
- Mar 27, 2009
I was walking through St. John's hospital recently, noticing how I could determine something about the identity of the people I passed in the halls just by how they were dressed. Doctors (usually in white), nurses (different styles and colors of outfits depending on the floor and department where they worked), volunteers (always with the little jacket), gift shop personnel, coffee kiosk workers, paramedics, construction workers (the safety helmet is a dead giveaway), patients (with the lovely gowns that they are desperately trying to keep shut in the back!). Everyone's identity was made clear from how they were dressed.
A very basic life principle is that of putting things off and putting things on. It has to do with how we choose to get dressed - not physically but spiritually, with our thoughts, motives, attitudes and actions. The apostle Paul likens the Christian life to getting dressed and undressed, something we do every day. What we decide to wear, what we decide to take off and put on will determine a whole lot about our identity for that day. When we dress ourselves poorly, it has an adverse affect on ourselves as well as the people around us. On the other hand, when we dress well for the day, it has a very positive effect both on us and others. And - it brings glory to God as we imitate something of His character and nature through the way we choose to "dress."
God desires for His children to actually begin to look like Him, to reflect His goodness, His love and compassion, His grace and forgiveness, His truth, righteousness, mercy, patience, kindness and gentleness. This is where the day-by-day and hour-by-hour putting off and putting on becomes so important. As we walk with the Lord and allow the Scriptures to shine God's light into our lives, we will become aware of those areas where we need to dispose of "clothing" which is unfit, dirty, soiled, smelly, and inappropriate for a child of God, and at the same time, we will want to be clothed with the items which we find hanging in His wardrobe that will show our identity as children of God.
For me, this whole process of putting off and putting on only occurs when I am spending time with the Lord in prayer. It's when I'm alone with the Lord, waiting, listening, that He shows me those things in my life that need to be removed. It's when I'm in prayer that I can wrestle through the issues of the heart and ask the Lord to "create in me a clean heart and restore a steadfast spirit within me." It's when I'm alone with the Lord that His Spirit seems to do the best work in my life, revealing, convicting, encouraging, cleansing, and clothing me anew. Before the day's over and a new day begins, I need to go back and do it all over again - take off the old and put on the new. And my Lord is ever so gracious with me as I seek to do this with each new day.
Put Off: Put On:
Pride Humility
Selfishness Self-denial
Bitterness Tender-hearted
Anger Gentleness
Stubbornness Brokenness
Disrespect Honor
Impatience Patience
Critical spirit Kindness
Evil thoughts Pure thoughts
Rebellion Submission
Ingratitude Thankfulness
Murmuring Appreciation
Covetousness Contentment
Jealousy Trust
Causing strife Promoting peace
Losing temper Self-control
Gluttony Discipline
Gossip Bridled tongue
Prayerlessness Pray without ceasing
Neglect of Bible Time in God's Word
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