We’ve all seen it…the mess that’s in the news lately. And I mean more than just the last few weeks. There was a very real sigh of relief yesterday when most people were thinking of other things, like the solar eclipse. I loved that people were turning their hearts toward the Creator, even if they didn’t recognize it as such. His glorious works were on display…and I for one, loved the break from the reality that is our daily news.
How do we keep our hearts soft in this world when most of media and social media are pointing toward hardness? Pointing us in the direction of hate, gossip, judging, dishonoring and so many other things that will make our hearts hard
There are 2 scriptures that come to mind…
Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Romans 13:14 “Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”
Did you catch that? Both scriptures say to “clothe yourself”…with the very Presence of Jesus, and with His characteristics…compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness…and patience. All pretty opposite characteristics of what we see happening in the world today. Clothing yourself is something each of us do every day, right? Something we’re all familiar with. We get up each day and we choose what we are going to put on. It’s something very tangible and physical. And scripture is teaching us to do the same with all of these characteristics of Christ…we need to physically “put on” compassion…and choose to wear kindness…instead of knowing everything, choose to be humble…commit to being gentle and patient. They are all physical choices we need to make, just like we choose what clothes to wear.
Looking back at the verse from Romans 13, don’t miss here that the very first word is “Instead…” If you read the verse directly before it, you will see that it lists the ways of the world…it lists things that keep us far from God and things that can hurt us. So, it’s taking a list of things that can make our hearts hard…and saying “instead“. Instead of doing and being these things…clothe yourself with Christ. Clothe yourself with His very Presence. Reading the second part of the verse, it instructs us to not even let ourselves think about such things.
I do know it’s important to be “up” on what’s going on in the world. But I also feel that there is a line. To constantly put ourselves in a position to hear hate, dishonor, gossip, words of betrayal etc…is going to affect our hearts. It’s going to make us hard to what is going on in our world instead of our hearts being soft and full of compassion.
INSTEAD…be clothed with Christ, put on Him and His Presence. Well, how do you really physically do that?
I’m so glad you asked 🙂 You take and begin your day by being with Him. You worship, read His Word, mediate on it…or chew on it, what is God saying to you? You surround yourself with the things of God…and not things of the world that will influence you into thinking and being someone you were never created to be.
When you’re in someone’s presence, a little bit of them, rubs off on you. And I don’t know about you, but I know I want all of Jesus to come through me on a daily basis. I want to have a soft heart, on that doesn’t give up on others, one that is quick to listen and slow to speak, a heart that loves unconditionally with patience and kindness. I want to be known as someone who is clothed with Christ. Don’t you?
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