Sooooooo, yeah... let me just be the first to say that I'm a total blogging failure!!! Three posts in like three years! Wow... that's good stuff right there.
Now to ease everyone who's near a heart attack from the title of my post... I don't mean naked in a literal way, I mean, c'mon man that's a scary thought!!! I mean it in a biblical/theoretical sense. You see, I've spent more time than usual pouring over my Bible, really looking to see what the scriptures say, what God is trying to teach me. It started because I was looking for answers to some questions that are to personal to be aired out on a blog, and began to see that not only am totally inept when it comes to actually sitting down and taking the time to post something.... there are many other areas in my life that I have regrettably become a (dun - dun - dun) slacker. I've failed to clothe myself in a manner according to scripture...
Colossians 3:12-14 says "12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. "
Clothe yourself in these virtues, I know I'm not very good at wearing all of those all the time, are you? Okay, let's just look and see exactly what each of these mean:
*Compassion - A feeling of wanting to help someone who is sick, hungry, in trouble, etc.
*Kindness - having or showing a gentle nature and a desire to help others : wanting and liking to do good things and to bring happiness to others
*Humility - the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people : the quality or state of being humble
*Gentleness - having or showing a kind and quiet nature : not harsh or violent : not hard or forceful : not strong or harsh in effect or quality
*Patience - able to remain calm and not become annoyed when waiting for a long time or when dealing with problems or difficult people : done in a careful way over a long period of time without hurrying
*Forgive - to stop feeling anger toward (someone who has done something wrong) : to stop blaming (someone) : to stop feeling anger about (something) : to forgive someone for (something wrong) : to stop requiring payment of (money that is owed)
*Love - strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interest: an assurance of affection : warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion : unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind(2) : brotherly concern for others
All these definitions come straight from good old Merriam Webster. I'm wondering, how well do we clothe ourselves in these? I'm curious to see what/where we see a lacking in the lives of the Christians around us. As we put on the "full armor of God" are we forgetting all the things that go underneath? Are we going to church without our shirt of patience? Do we respond to unbelievers without our hood of gentleness? The homeless man on the corner we pass everyday... did we remember to put on our socks of compassion and humility? How about the pants of forgiveness when dealing with that family member that wronged you? Or the skirt of Kindness as it applies to the children in our lives? Oh and lest we forget the trench coat of love?? You know that one that covers a multitude of sins.... did we leave it hanging on the coat rack this morning? Or do you have it tightly buttoned around you warming you and the lives of those you come in contact with?
Don't forget to participate in my little survey on the right... you can mark multiple answers!!
Less is not more... let's all make sure we get all of our clothes on today!!!
God Bless and Good Day!
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