The FORGE Dress Code…
As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved…clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other… Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:12-13.
As I heard about the crazy weather in Texas last week, I was thinking a lot of things…like I’m so glad I live in Florida. Seriously, I’ve got no clothes for that kind of weather. The conditions require us to dress accordingly whether it’s for the weather or for work, or for play. Paul uses this passage to ask us to consider the “Gospel-dress-code!”
Scotty Smith says…As for our “clothing” choices, these grace-garments never go out of style, need altering, replacing, or updating…
- Compassion
- Kindness
- Humility
- Gentleness
- Patience
- Forbearance
- Forgiveness
I think he’s right. As I looked at each of these “grace-garments” during my DAWG this week, patience and forbearance were the two that most caught my attention. I was thinking they were the same thing but as I thought about those words and asked the Holy Spirit to lead me, I realized the distinction. I get the idea of patience but forbearance…to bear with one another is more about perseverance and staying the course with someone. This is a distinctive I need more of. Often, I can be patient in the moment but I’m not always willing to continue on with people. I am more inclined to move on from certain people if too much patience is required. I sensed God saying…no-no-no, keep on with those who might try your patience.
Then I thought, God thank you for keeping on with me. As I re-read the passage, I realized that before He asks us to clothe ourselves in these things, He reminds us that we are…God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved!
Wow…because every moment of our life is lived as His sons…because of what God, through Jesus, has done for us,
our relationship with Him and the energy grace gives us transforms and frees us to be distinct and formative in our world and culture.
Getting dressed up with LOTS of places to go…Kelley
