What Are You Putting On

Introduction

“Go put on something else” my mother would yell if my clothing was not befitting for the location we were headed. Typically it was on a Sunday morning when I would attempt to wear something a little more comfortable than a suit, or slacks and a shirt and tie. I was raised up by an old school mamma, women couldn’t wear pants to church momma, you couldn’t serve around the table unless you had a jacket and tie momma. Typically when she told me to put on something else I was already anticipating it, typically I knew it wasn’t appropriate but I was going to try my luck just in case. What I had put on was not deemed appropriate by my mother according to the the nature of her standard.

What we put on is a reflection of who we are. We live in a society in which the man that puts on the 3 piece suit might rob you and the man that has put tattoos all over his body might help you fix a flat tire in the rain. Many cops put a badge on after they take off their hate of white supremacy. So I ask what are you putting on? Understand that love is the glue to Unity, if we do not have love Unity does not happen. When bonds of fellowship are broken, when ties have been severed we have to check the glue and see if it comes from love. I can put on a representation of what it means to protect and serve but if serving does not come from the heart that means nothing, I can put on a suit and tie, I can put on a dress and a nice church hat but if my heart isn’t filled with love I’ll treat people with hate, envy and strife.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

12 Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. 14 Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity.

Put to death (1–7). In Christ, you have died to the old life and been raised to a new life (Rom. 6:1–14; Eph. 2:1–10), so make the new life the focus of your attention. Set your mind on it; seek to experience all that you have in Christ.

Put off (8–9). Like Lazarus (John 11:44), you must get rid of the graveclothes that belong to the old life. By faith, put off the old sins that bound you; Christ has set you free.

Put on (10–25). God wants you to wear the graceclothes, not the graveclothes! If your focus is on things heavenly, you will obey God in things on earth, especially in your relationships with others.

We haven’t put hate to death yet, so it’s impossible for me to love my brother.

We still walking around with grave clothes on, remiss of the faith we need to build a relationship with someone that does not look like me.

Once I get rid of those old clothes I can put on some new ones.