What to Wear
August 30, 2009 Colossians 3:12-17
I’m told that after last Sunday some folks wondered if I would ever wear my vestments again! I spoke on “What Not to Wear” and as a visual I led the service in rather casual clothing. I am not opposed to the traditional garb like I have on today. It is rich in symbolism. The white robe reminds us of the covering of righteousness that Jesus provides for each of us. The colors of the church year are rich in tradition, green representing the life of the church. So for now I will still use the vestments. However, if it gets in the way of sharing the Gospel message, we need to ask ourselves what is more important: our traditions or living as disciples!
The theme of this series on the book of Colossians has been Living as Disciples…Facing Opposition. Sometimes the opposition we face is our own sinful attitudes. That is what we were told not to wear last week. Today, we examine WHAT TO WEAR, starting in Colossians 3:12
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Just as in last week’s message on “What Not to Wear,” when God tells you “What To Wear,” He is not talking about clothes. Last week was negative, this week is positive. God tells you the proper garments of righteousness that His followers should proudly wear. These are characteristics that should control our lives as followers of Jesus, God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved. Just as certainly as God chose the people of Israel in the Old Testament, you are chosen in Christ. You have been brought to faith by the Holy Spirit working through God’s Word. You were not chosen because of who you are or what you have done, but because of everything Jesus did in your place. The fact that you believe in Jesus your assurance that you have been chosen by God. Knowing that Jesus was willing to die to make you holy is proof that you are dearly loved.
So how do you clothe yourself with these things listed here? By the way, this is not a complete list of the Christian wardrobe, but the virtues are a good representative sampling. These things give evidence that you are a disciple of Jesus in spite of everything else going on in the world!
COMPASSION – This is that deep emotion of care rooted in the love of Christ that fills the hearts of believers, especially for those who are hurting or suffering or in distress. It is something you feel, to be sure, but it also drives you to action.
KINDNESS – Often this is the outgrowth of compassion, but it is more than that. It is a loving disposition toward others. Because you are a disciple of Jesus, you should show this kindness to everyone.
HUMILITY – Not thinking more highly of yourself than you ought, putting the concerns of others first. This comes not only from recognizing your sinfulness but also from an appreciation of what God has done for you in Christ.
GENTLENESS – This does not mean you are weak. Jesus was not weak, but He was gentle with others. Disciples of Jesus will stand firm in Him and follow His example, being gentle with others, including your enemies.
PATIENCE – This is a rare characteristic among people. God has modeled this for us:
2 Peter 3:9 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
All of these things Paul mentions were not admired by the world then any more than they are today. The world tells you to be assertive and proud, that “nice guys finish last.” But these things – compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience – are not to be a reflection of the world. They are to be a reflection of Jesus to the world. That is why you need to wear them!
13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
These words echo the teaching of Jesus from the prayer that He gave us: forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. We forgive because He first forgave us. This also reminds us that we are all sinners who live with and among other sinners. We will sin against each other. It is what happens in our lives. A cross word muttered under your breath when someone leaves the room. Speaking ill of someone who is not there to defend herself. Losing your temper with someone for not reacting to your wants quickly enough. The list is endless. You need to be forgiven for those things, and because of your faith in Jesus, God does forgive you. Do you then extend that forgiveness to others?
Jesus forgave His enemies from the cross. He forgave the people who were killing Him. What if you and I were able to truly forgive those who have wronged us with the same sincerity that Jesus displayed? What if we were constantly displayed His love to the world around us? That is what He asks you to do as His disciples.
14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
The image Paul gives here is that after you have put on all your other “clothing,” the last layer is love. This is the overarching attribute of Christians, the crowning virtue. It is the love we have been shown by God that enables us to love others. Christianity is not about rules and regulations, but about knowing the forgiveness that God has provided in Christ. That knowledge inspires us to turn from our sins and live for Jesus. We live as disciples who have been blanketed with the love of God in Christ. You have felt the power of God’s love in your living. If you show that love to others in your living, can you imagine the effect will it have on the opposition you face?
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
What is this peace? The angels announced it, but Jesus tells us it is something other than what the world typically thinks of.
Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”
John 14:27 I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
The peace Jesus brought, the peace that passes all understanding, is a result of knowing we have been reconciled to God by His love. Jesus came to do what we had failed to do. He kept the law in our place. He took our place in punishment. He paid the price for our sins. And He rose from the dead to give us the victory over sin and death and the devil. You have peace with God.
And be thankful. Don’t think those three little words are just an afterthought on Paul’s part. No, he mentions showing gratitude to God five times in this little letter. He will mention it again in the last verse of today’s text. When you remember and consider what you have been given by God, gratitude should be the ongoing result. I would say it should even been considered part of your Christian attire, what to wear!
16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Paul is writing these words to people who were still hearing the message of Jesus orally. The written word about the Jesus is still coming into being. The Word became flesh was being spoken of and just starting to be written down as God moved Paul and others to do so. Paul is saying that word of Christ should live in them. “Dwell” speaks of it settling in and living in them. And the same goes for you. Even though we have the Word in written form, we should still have it dwelling within us. We need to use it for teaching and correcting and admonishing – that is part of our Christian Fellowship. The Word is not just for occasional use or perusal. It is to dwell in you, live in you, fill up your being. The way to get the Word in you is for you to be in the Word. Do you spend time letting God speak to you? Is it part of your daily walk? Or do you figure you can get enough of that when you are here on Sunday? The Word is certainly the focus of our worship, but why deprive yourself of it the rest of the week? God wants to talk to you. Let His Word dwell in you. When the Word is in you, it will result in praise that comes from the heart.
17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Christ is source of our entire existence. Would you be happy to have the name of Jesus attached to everything you do? It is, whether you realize it or not. People know you are His disciple, and they are watching you to see whether or not it makes a difference.
When others look at you, what will they see you wearing? Listen again to the encouragement of Paul in this chapter:
Put to death … sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed … rid yourselves of … anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self … clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience … And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity … and be thankful.
