What am I going to wear?

Do you decide what to wear in the morning, or do you plan ahead and lay out your clothes the night before?  For some people, what they wear is a well-thought-out-plan.  I prefer comfort and functionality vs. fashion, and since my closet offers slim pickin’s, I can make fast, on the spot decisions.  However, these two factors strongly influence my choices:  where I am going, and the weather forecast.

When climatic seasons change, we respond in various ways.  One of the ways in which we respond is what we wear.  The climate changes recommend, and sometimes require, swapping out one wardrobe for the other.  A new spiritual season recommends and requires us to do the same.

When Jesus began His earthly ministry, the spiritual climate began to change.  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good new to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  Jesus was reading prophesy regarding Himself from the scroll of Isaiah.  “Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing”. (Luke 4:18,19;21).  Soon the old “covering” of the Law would be swapped out with the new covering of Grace.

The last part of Isaiah speaks of future times; a new season, a time of restoration.  Isaiah 61 contains the chunk of scripture Jesus read from, and verse 3 describes a “wardrobe change”: “…beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness...” (KJV)

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, wrote about putting on the full armor of God:  the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, having our feet shod with the preparation that comes from the gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, and prayer. (Ephesians 6:13-18).  And to the saints in Colossae he wrote, “Put on… compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience… and above all these, put on love…” (Colossians 3:12,14).

It seems like the season has shifted from revealing to cleansing and healing; perhaps it will be a lengthy time, we don’t know.  “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).  It is vital to understand our current spiritual season -- to know what we ought to do (see 1 Chronicles 12:32), and how to dress, being properly fitted, and ready. 

“…and above all these, put on love…”