What Are You Putting On?

Then He said to His disciples,
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing."
Luke 12:22-23 NKJV

 We put on a lot of things in an effort to improve how we look and how we are perceived by those around us. We put on deodorant and clean clothes. Women put on makeup and sometimes men wish they could and both put on multiple hair products and colognes. Many people are motivated by not wanting to be judged. However, even when we're not trying to be judgmental, we often have a comment based on something we've decided we like. I like your shirt. Your hair looks great. Your makeup looks really good today. Is that a new jacket? Oh, I love your earrings. It doesn't stop there, but neither you nor I have the time to make a complete list.

Then you've got phrases like, Puttin' on the Ritz, puttin' on the dog, putting on a brave face, puttin' on your big-boy britches. One of my favorite quotes is by A.A. Milne, 'When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.'  Makes me wanna put on my Big Boots...

The greatest adventure of them all has to do with putting on something else entirely. There was a certain crown  - made of thorns  - that was put on His head. And they also put on Him a purple robe. Then they mocked Him, judged Him and falsely accused him, and then put Him on the Cross to die for our sin.  Galatians 3 tells us, For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Have we put Him on or are we putting Him on (but not in a good way) and only fooling ourselves?

Colossians 3:12-14 NKJV, tells us, Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 

Do we see ourselves putting on all these things, according to this passage of Scripture? If Jesus asked, "Are you putting ME on?" what would be your answer?

Prayer:

Father, 
          According to Your Word, Since we have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from Him, help us to throw off our old sinful nature and our former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes. Help us to put on our new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen