The Appropriate Wardrobe

Read: Colossians 3.1-17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: The following is taken from N. T. Wright in his commentary "Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters," which presents us with some insights into Colossians 3.1-17:

"The key to the new life which Christians are called to live is found in verse 10. The new self 'is being renewed in the image of the creator,' and one of the results in new knowledge. How does this relate to the instructions Paul is giving them here?"

"The answer is clear. Paul expects the Christian, as part of his or her renewal in the image of God - in other words, part of their discovery in practice of what it means to be a genuine human being - to be able to see clearly, and understand, the deeper issues involved behind apparently casual sexual behavior and apparently casual talk. As so often in Colossians, it seems that, contrary to what a lot of people today imagine, begin a Christian means learning to think harder, not to leave your brain behind in the quest for new experiences. Thinking straight and knowing the truth are part of what it means to be a truly human being, the sort of human being the gospel is meant to create."

Right thinking leads to "right dressing" for the days in which we live, and the Apostle Paul reminds us of the appropriate wardrobe for a follower of Christ:

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (verses 3.12-14).