Facing difficult circumstances is nothing new. Illness, political upheaval, death, and devastation unfold because we live in a world in process of restoration. Earth groans and so do we.
How we respond bears witness of where we place our hope.
I’ll admit that this week, I have struggled to show it. Long lines at the grocery store, , not finding items in stock that I seek, and having my rhythms interrupted have all pressed in upon me. The temptation to react with impatience creeps in. But I remember:
“As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12
Lauren Winner, in her book Clothed in God, writes about wearing Jesus. “He is the school uniform that erases boundaries between people. Or at least that is the kind of clothing Jesus wants to be. When those of us clothed in Him trespass boundaries in His name, we allow Him to be that school uniform; when we put up walls in the name of Jesus, we are turning the Lord into an expensive designer dress.”
Yikes! The last thing I want to do is be portraying that Jesus to others. So, I surrender to Jesus all that I can’t control and pray that Jesus is seen as my garment when: I stand in the grocery line. Look for a parking spot. Wait for someone six feet from me to decide what they need from the shelf. Because Maybe they will realize there is more to this Earthly life than they are experiencing. And what I’m wearing becomes a residence of the Holy Spirit.
So I am trying hard to empty myself and “wear” Jesus. All his beautiful non-cultural conforming design. Because others need to see more of Him and less of me.
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If we are to follow Him
in life and not just pious dreams,
we must climb out upon a limb,
but it’s not hard as it seems.
As a Man, He did feel sorrow
with which He had to come to grips,
and His anger we can borrow
(He did chase people ’round with whips).
And, yes, He sure could be impatient:
“How long shall I put up with you?”
And made the odd sarcastic statement:
“Who’s on coin’s who you give it to.”
Just know this before you try
to be like Him: for Love you die.
I needed this today, Stephanie! I love the idea of wearing Jesus. He offers to robe us, but I’ve never thought about what that means. Thank you.