Dear ladies, I have a question for you....
What are your clothes saying about you?
The type of clothes I am referring to is not something you can purchase at the local mall. It is not trendy and nor is it always comfortable. You cannot find it on the finest racks at Nordstroms or even find it on clearance at any sales. The type of clothing I am referring to is your clothing of spiritual beauty.
The clothing of spiritual beauty is much more beautiful than the cashmere sweaters, the silk dress, the leather skirt, the diamond studded belt---that moth and rust can destroy, for many reasons. Our spiritual clothing is beautiful in the eyes of our Lord for He is the great designer of it---and as others see it, they will see that it is the fruit of God's work in us.
Now our spiritual clothing is exquisite and looks like this:
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness goodness
faithful
self-control
humility
strength
dignity
courage
forgiveness
meekness
steadfastness
gentleness
quiet
modest
pure
encourages others
always points to God
Very different from this kind of clothing:loud
selfish
angry
irritated
revengeful
lustful
self-centered
greedy
discontent
slanderous
unforgiveness
bitterness
vain
hatred
jealousy
murder
mlice
self-seeking
prideful
discourages others
always points to self
You can see the garments of spiritual beauty on a woman because it is very evident. Her clothing is in full view for others to see even while it is spiritual. It is seen in her conduct (how she carries herself), in her eyes, in her words and in her works. She possesses something that others do not and carries the spirit of the Lord with her. When I see these attributes in a woman it is hard not to notice. She is a rare gem and treasure that my heart desires to aspire to. I pray the Lord would help me to cultivate this type of fine spiritual clothing, though not to receive approval from man, but to be pleasing in God's sight.
The latter list of apparel is the opposite. It defiles us and steals glory from God. It comes thundering in the spirit of Satan---loud, debaucherous, slanderous, and prideful. It seeks only self-gain and is quite deceptive especially to the person who wears them. It seeks to conquer, kill and destroy--much like the designer who designed it--- and yes, I said DESTROY. Not just destroy those around but the very person who wears the pseudo raiment.
And as a last word....sometimes are we not like trees that look full from afar but when you get up close they are empty? Or maybe we look like bowls of lush, fresh fruit but when you get up close we only find in dismay that is only wax? I am speaking here of authenticity. We can look like we are wearing the spiritual clothing that God has designed for us to our neighbors, on Sunday dressed in our Sunday best, at our women's Bible studies, etc., but are we sadly like the bowl of fruit that when people get closer find that we are not whom we portrayed ourselves to be?????
God's word is the final word on the matter on our authentic spiritual clothing:
"Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12
What will you pull out of your spiritual wardrobe today?
