Put On.......

Maybe because we are studying the Armor of God but the verses today in Colossians are donned like clothing. Colossians 3:12,14 (ESV): Put on then, ......compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,....and above all these, put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

I pictured getting dressed with these characteristics as with garments of clothing. I'm picturing layers of clothes with love being the top layer. When I get dressed, it is intentional. I don't accidentally put on a pair of pants. I don't accidentally walk into my shirt. First I choose what I'm going to wear. I make a conscious decision about what to wear for the weather conditions, where I'm going, and what I'm going to be doing. It is intentional.

So from this image in my head of getting dressed, I understand that it is intentional to put on - physically pick it up and put it on - compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. And to make sure it all stays in place, I have to cover it all with love. I have to make the choice to put on these items as I get ready for the day. Some days I need to be more compassionate. Some days, humility is extremely necessary. So I must adjust what I "wear" with the circumstances. I might wear an undergarment of meekness, a long-sleeved shirt of compassion and patience, a sweater of kindness and humility and a cloak of love when going into a meeting where tempers may boil. When visiting someone who is ill, I might wear an undergarment of humility and meekness, a shirt of patience, a sweater of compassion and kindness, and a coat of love, adjusting the amounts of each that I may need/use for a situation. But each would be necessary for each circumstance. And love is an absolute necessity to "bind everything together in perfect harmony". I think the armor of God may be the binding of love.

Creator, That's a lot of clothing. Surely, if I had all that on, I would be more Godly.......if only I would put it all on, all the time. Intentionally. With planning and forethought. With God in mind and heart. God, your creation deserves to be treated with each one of us wearing these garments of Your characteristics. Help me to put on these garments and your armor. I want to be a reflection of You to those with whom I come in contact. I pray that Jesus and the Holy Spirit prevent me from being an embarrassment to what I should be and reflect as Your follower. Amen

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