new clothes

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
- Colossians 3:12 (NIV)

 I truly appreciate that we have access to multiple translations of the Bible. Sometimes, reading a different version offers a fresh perspective on familiar words. For example, the New Life Version says, "God has chosen you. You are holy and loved by Him. Because of this, your new life should be full of loving-pity. You should be kind to others and have no pride. Be gentle and be willing to wait for others." 

The New International Reader’s Version reads, "You are God’s chosen people. You are holy and dearly loved. So put on tender mercy and kindness as if they were your clothes. Don’t be proud. Be gentle and patient." 

The Living Bible says, "Since you have been chosen by God who has given you this new kind of life, and because of his deep love and concern for you, you should practice tenderhearted mercy and kindness to others. Don’t worry about making a good impression on them, but be ready to suffer quietly and patiently."

I’ll admit, I don’t always live up to these standards. I’m not always compassionate or kind, and patience is especially hard for me—my shortcomings often show up when I’m driving or shopping. Maybe I need to rethink my approach. God calls us to embody compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience at all times: Compassion for those who are hurting, kindness for the lonely, humility, recognizing we’re not always right.  Also gentleness for the weak—sometimes just being present is enough and patience, both with others and as we wait for answers. I think I do well with compassion and kindness (humility could use some work!), and gentleness, but patience is a real struggle for me. So, let me ask: When you go out, what are you wearing? Are you putting on compassion, helping someone in need at the store? Are you wearing kindness at a restaurant when service is slow? Do you show patience when the lines are long? As God’s chosen people, we represent Him in all we do. If our “clothing” isn’t pleasing to Him, how can we honor His name? Before you head out, look in the mirror and make sure you’re wearing the right spiritual clothes. Sometimes, we find ourselves involved in things we’d rather not do, and we complain or want to quit. But then, unexpectedly, we encounter a situation where we’re truly needed. In those moments, we find ourselves responding with compassion, kindness, gentleness, and patience—and we learn humility along the way. These experiences remind us that we’re right where God wants us to be, and every lesson in compassion is worth learning. As His child, I know I need to work on my spiritual wardrobe. Let’s strive to be among God’s chosen people.

 #dailybreadbykitty
Daily Inspiration from the Bible