Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Clothe Yourself with Love
Everybody knows the pressure that comes with trying to find the right outfit for the right situation. Anybody who knows me well knows I try to avoid that by pretty much wearing basically the same thing every single day. You're not really going to see me deviate much from what I have in my wardrobe. I don't want to feel the pressure of having the right clothes, because there's a lot that comes with that. You've got to consider all different kinds of factors—where are you going, who's going to be there, what are they going to be dressed like, and what should I show up as? It's just too much. See, I'm already stressing myself out.
Why Paul Is Talking About Clothing
When I read this verse, I think about this instruction from Paul about clothing. The verse says above all other kinds of clothing, clothe yourself with love. The reason Paul is talking about clothing here is that he's writing this letter to a group of people who live in a culture and a society where there's a lot of confusion and syncretism when it comes to understanding God. What that means is a lot of different people have thoughts about God—who He is, and what it means to follow Him. What is prevailing amongst the people is this thought that we're all on the same way, we're all going toward God, they think, let's just agree that there is a God and it doesn't really matter which one.
Well, if you read this letter starting at the beginning, Paul is very clear—this is all about Jesus. In chapter one, he says Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Chapter two talks about how our lives are truly fruitful when we are rooted and built up in Christ. Then right here in chapter three, Paul is reminding the reader that while they're walking around in culture, while they're meeting people, while they're bumping into folks, while they're doing their work—there is this clothing they should be wearing. When people look at it, they don't just see clothing. They see the attributes of the Jesus that they follow.
The Full Wardrobe
The verse says above all other things, clothe yourself. But there are a few other elements of the wardrobe here too. If you read them, it says put on compassionate hearts, exhibit kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear one another's burdens, forgive one another—and above all things, love, which binds them all together. For those who are into fashion—which I'm clearly not—you'll sometimes talk about that one thing that ties the whole outfit together. You're going out for the day, you've got your stuff picked out, but there's that one piece. Whether it's shoes or a purse, it's the thing that holds it all together.
Paul is saying that when you're living this life following the way of Jesus, when you go out your door in the morning, put on the wardrobe—these clothing pieces that come from knowing Christ. The one that ties it all together, the piece of the wardrobe that holds it all together, is love.
Love Ties It All Together
Think about it. You can exhibit all types of good attributes. You can show yourself to be really knowledgeable about the Bible. You can be really presentable and kind to other people. But if people don't feel love at the center of what your life is representing, we're missing the point. Today, as we go into our day and think about the clothing we're putting on in Christ, let's think about love tying it all together.
