There
are several, common sayings about clothing. ‘The clothes make the man.’ ‘Dress
for success.’ These are just two. First impressions are often determined in
part by the attire that we have chosen to wear.
Every morning we get up and choose what will wear for
today. Work attire may be a uniform, dress clothes or casual. Whichever it is,
we reach for that outfit and put it on. When we stand before our closets
deciding which clothing we will put on for the day, we are making a decision
about how we will be perceived by everyone we see. The clothes that we put on
do not change the person we are. Our true identity is constant, whether we are
wearing dress clothes, casual or even pajamas. We are who we truly are inside.
The same is true of God. He is the almighty King of the
universe at all times. Regardless of what anyone thinks or says about Him, He
remains supreme. He wears clothes of royalty. “The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the
Lord is robed, He has girded Himself with strength and power; the
world also is established, that it cannot be moved.” (Psalms 93:1 AMP) God rules at all times.
Jesus was still all God when He walked this earth. He took
off the royal appearance and put on humility in the appearance of man. “ But
stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the
guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a
human being. And
after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still
further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of
the cross!” (Philippians
2:7-8 AMP) He was no less God but chose to dress in the skin of man instead of
the robes of majesty.
We have been made royalty when we became
children of God. “But you are
a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased,
special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the
virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous
light.” (1 Peter 2:9 AMP) Spiritually we wear the robes of
royalty yet we are told to put on
humility. “Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him
be your example in humility:]” (Philippians
2:5 AMP)
Another
item of clothing that we are to take out of our spiritual closet is love. Love
and concern for others must be worn at all times. “And above all these [put on]
love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds
everything together completely in ideal harmony].” (Colossians 3:14 AMP) This may not always be the
easiest piece of clothing to wear when others are difficult to serve. But
considering the great love of Jesus we can choose to keep wearing love.
Praise
and so much more have been given to us by the sacrifice of Jesus. He stated
that He was sent, “To grant
[consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion—to give them an ornament (a
garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of
mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing
spirit—that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and
magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with
God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3 AMP) We have been given beauty, joy
and praise to wear. We can wear them proudly as signs of royalty and bring
glory to our Father, the King.
The
armor given to us by the Holy Spirit is unseen apparel that we must wear
daily. “Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed
soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up
against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.” (Ephesians
6:11 AMP) The lies and attacks that come against us cannot stand up to the
armor we have been given.
Whether God is dressed as a man as Jesus was when He walked
this earth, in full battle array or sitting on the throne, shining in all His
splendor at the final judgment, He remains unchangeable. “For I am the Lord, I do not
change;” (Malachi 3:6a AMP) Even if others see our acts of
kindness and humility as displays of weakness rather than kingly obedience to
the Almighty King, our royal
identity remains intact.
What will you wear today? What will others see?
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