December 30, 2018
Colossians 3:12-17
What should I wear...this is a question that we all are faced with every single day. We wake up and look at the day ahead and decide what clothes we should wear. We think about where it is that we have to go on a given day, what we have to do, what the weather will be like. If we have to work, we may put on a uniform or professional attire. What you wear to work is used to show your focus and commitment to your job. If you have the day off, you might decide to stay in and wear pajamas all day, the comfier the better as you hope to relax. Every day we face this question of “What to Wear??” This question is deeply important because what we wear is often a gateway for others to get a glimpse of who we are. I wear this wake forest hat a lot, so much so that Lily has washed it multiple times and it’s hardly even black anymore. This hat serves multiple purposes. Through this hat I can tell others that I have a connection to Wake Forest University. Whether by love of sports teams or affinity for Wake Forest academics, I wear this hat to display to others around me that I accept WFU as a part of my identity. In the same way I have UGA clothing, and others here may rep App State, Texas, and many other sports teams or organizations. Our clothes can serve the purpose of conveying our identity and our hearts to others around us. For Christmas this year, I received an article of clothing from Lily’s parents that has great significance for me, a camo jacket. This camo jacket is great because it is very durable and is specifically made to provide protection from the cold and the rain. Even more important though, this jacket is a symbol of Lily’s family and there history of hunting. To be gifted my first camo jacket, to me represents respect and honor from her family. What we choose to wear everyday, and the clothes that we have in our closets,says a lot about who we are.
In our scripture for today we can see the importance of clothing expressed. However, not in the sense of physical articles of clothing. Verse 12 instructs to clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. As a t shirt or a hat can be used to share with others a glimpse of our identity, the way in which we interact with others broadcasts who we are. If we were to look in the verses preceding our scripture, we find that the colossians were instructed to get rid of previous identifying qualities. Anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from their mouths. These previous qualities would have served the purpose of disconnecting them from each other, and their community. These qualities may have often led them to harm even those that were closest to them whether it be in a physical or emotional manner. These qualities also would distort the perception of what is true. By carrying themselves in a negative, harmful manner, they created an identity of disconnection and pain.
Verse 12 was written to counter the life that the colossians had been living and provide a guideline for new life, a life that mirrored the life of Christ. Where there had been disconnect and harm, a life clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience could be a life that builds relationships within and throughout the community. Being clothed in compassion and kindness can take the form of listening to the concerns of others and de-escalating disagreements among each other within the community. Practicing the art of agreeing to disagree. When covered in humility, meekness, and patience, one can avoid judgements and hubris in order to build connections and relationships throughout their community. These new articles of clothing serve the purpose of not just telling us how to live each day, but highlight the moments when we may be at odd with one another.
Verse 13 goes on to express the importance of forgiving one another. If we have clothed ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, then we are equipped to come together as one body of people and continue to always welcome others in. With groups of people and relationships, there will be without fail, disagreements and complaints regarding those who we come in contact with. Instead of holding this complaint and sharing it with others, verse 13 stresses the importance that we must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven each one of us.
All of these new articles of clothing we have been instructed to wear are exceedingly important in representing the Kingdom of God. There is one, however, that our scripture has called us to hold above all. That article would be one of love. Above all, our scripture says, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Without love, clothing ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience becomes so much harder. Love is the driving force that gives us the ability to always clothe ourselves in the correct article of clothing that others need in that moment in time. Love reigns over all.
Yesterday, as Lily and I returned home from our holiday trip to family, we had an event that to me expresses the importance of clothing yourself in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and love. For the past few months, since we have gotten Ruby, I have had the opportunity to meet and befriend a young boy in our apartment community who often plays in the courtyard in the afternoons. I have stopped to toss a football with him multiple times each week and for Christmas Lily and I decided to get him a new football. After we returned, having picked up Ruby at her “Dog Hotel” Lily set out to walk Ruby and I made the trip to the grocery store to get what we needed. A few minutes later called me all distraught, as Ruby and Lily had been walking, our friend who I throw the football with and his Mom walked by and he wanted to pet Ruby. However, as he petted her, she got spooked and in a moment of fear she barked at him and scratched him. The young boys mom became afraid and told Lily she did not want him near Ruby ever again. Lily, however, made sure to get their apartment number so that I could later come and apologize and give him his new football. A couple of hours later, as I walked to their apartment, I pondered just what I would say and how I would be an example of humility, meekness, and love in spite of the incident. I found as I opened the door a mom who was scared but thankful for the compassion shown to her son and our willingness to apologize, to ask forgiveness, and to also show love to her son in the form of a Christmas gift. This gave me the opportunity to spend some time in their home to learn about the struggles that they face and to have the opportunity to show them support. As we start a new year and continue our celebration of new life in Jesus, we have the opportunity to ask again the question of what will we wear? Will we wear compassion, kindness, and love, in hopes of building community and relationships? How do we hope to express our identity to others as we move into this new chapter? Just as Lily and I had the opportunity to build relationships in community in spite of conflict, may this year for each of us be an opportunity to show compassion, love, and kindness, everyday.
Amen.
Colossians 3:12-17
What should I wear...this is a question that we all are faced with every single day. We wake up and look at the day ahead and decide what clothes we should wear. We think about where it is that we have to go on a given day, what we have to do, what the weather will be like. If we have to work, we may put on a uniform or professional attire. What you wear to work is used to show your focus and commitment to your job. If you have the day off, you might decide to stay in and wear pajamas all day, the comfier the better as you hope to relax. Every day we face this question of “What to Wear??” This question is deeply important because what we wear is often a gateway for others to get a glimpse of who we are. I wear this wake forest hat a lot, so much so that Lily has washed it multiple times and it’s hardly even black anymore. This hat serves multiple purposes. Through this hat I can tell others that I have a connection to Wake Forest University. Whether by love of sports teams or affinity for Wake Forest academics, I wear this hat to display to others around me that I accept WFU as a part of my identity. In the same way I have UGA clothing, and others here may rep App State, Texas, and many other sports teams or organizations. Our clothes can serve the purpose of conveying our identity and our hearts to others around us. For Christmas this year, I received an article of clothing from Lily’s parents that has great significance for me, a camo jacket. This camo jacket is great because it is very durable and is specifically made to provide protection from the cold and the rain. Even more important though, this jacket is a symbol of Lily’s family and there history of hunting. To be gifted my first camo jacket, to me represents respect and honor from her family. What we choose to wear everyday, and the clothes that we have in our closets,says a lot about who we are.
In our scripture for today we can see the importance of clothing expressed. However, not in the sense of physical articles of clothing. Verse 12 instructs to clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. As a t shirt or a hat can be used to share with others a glimpse of our identity, the way in which we interact with others broadcasts who we are. If we were to look in the verses preceding our scripture, we find that the colossians were instructed to get rid of previous identifying qualities. Anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from their mouths. These previous qualities would have served the purpose of disconnecting them from each other, and their community. These qualities may have often led them to harm even those that were closest to them whether it be in a physical or emotional manner. These qualities also would distort the perception of what is true. By carrying themselves in a negative, harmful manner, they created an identity of disconnection and pain.
Verse 12 was written to counter the life that the colossians had been living and provide a guideline for new life, a life that mirrored the life of Christ. Where there had been disconnect and harm, a life clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience could be a life that builds relationships within and throughout the community. Being clothed in compassion and kindness can take the form of listening to the concerns of others and de-escalating disagreements among each other within the community. Practicing the art of agreeing to disagree. When covered in humility, meekness, and patience, one can avoid judgements and hubris in order to build connections and relationships throughout their community. These new articles of clothing serve the purpose of not just telling us how to live each day, but highlight the moments when we may be at odd with one another.
Verse 13 goes on to express the importance of forgiving one another. If we have clothed ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, then we are equipped to come together as one body of people and continue to always welcome others in. With groups of people and relationships, there will be without fail, disagreements and complaints regarding those who we come in contact with. Instead of holding this complaint and sharing it with others, verse 13 stresses the importance that we must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven each one of us.
All of these new articles of clothing we have been instructed to wear are exceedingly important in representing the Kingdom of God. There is one, however, that our scripture has called us to hold above all. That article would be one of love. Above all, our scripture says, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Without love, clothing ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience becomes so much harder. Love is the driving force that gives us the ability to always clothe ourselves in the correct article of clothing that others need in that moment in time. Love reigns over all.
Yesterday, as Lily and I returned home from our holiday trip to family, we had an event that to me expresses the importance of clothing yourself in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and love. For the past few months, since we have gotten Ruby, I have had the opportunity to meet and befriend a young boy in our apartment community who often plays in the courtyard in the afternoons. I have stopped to toss a football with him multiple times each week and for Christmas Lily and I decided to get him a new football. After we returned, having picked up Ruby at her “Dog Hotel” Lily set out to walk Ruby and I made the trip to the grocery store to get what we needed. A few minutes later called me all distraught, as Ruby and Lily had been walking, our friend who I throw the football with and his Mom walked by and he wanted to pet Ruby. However, as he petted her, she got spooked and in a moment of fear she barked at him and scratched him. The young boys mom became afraid and told Lily she did not want him near Ruby ever again. Lily, however, made sure to get their apartment number so that I could later come and apologize and give him his new football. A couple of hours later, as I walked to their apartment, I pondered just what I would say and how I would be an example of humility, meekness, and love in spite of the incident. I found as I opened the door a mom who was scared but thankful for the compassion shown to her son and our willingness to apologize, to ask forgiveness, and to also show love to her son in the form of a Christmas gift. This gave me the opportunity to spend some time in their home to learn about the struggles that they face and to have the opportunity to show them support. As we start a new year and continue our celebration of new life in Jesus, we have the opportunity to ask again the question of what will we wear? Will we wear compassion, kindness, and love, in hopes of building community and relationships? How do we hope to express our identity to others as we move into this new chapter? Just as Lily and I had the opportunity to build relationships in community in spite of conflict, may this year for each of us be an opportunity to show compassion, love, and kindness, everyday.
Amen.
