Have you ever noticed how children may pay a lot of attention to what they wear but not necessarily whether their outfit matches? I my minds eye, I can see a little girl wearing a tiara, a sweatshirt, dingy jeans, a tutu, and rubber boots. She’s cute but she doesn’t match.
I’ve met that girl
When I was growing up, there was a girl in our neighborhood that had even less style sense than the girl in my mind’s eye. I know it’s hard to believe but I’m telling you, it’s true.
We used to make fun of her.
I know it’s mean and I’m sure not proud of myself now. I’d like to think that I’m more mature and that I would behave differently now. But children can be cruel and we did make fun of her.
I’m even worse than she was
But here’s the deal: I’m even worse than she was. Sure, I might dress myself well – at least in terms of the physical clothes I wear. But spiritually, I’m often a pretty poor dresser.
I like to choose my “spiritual wardrobe” but I don’t pay attention to whether what I’m wearing matches. I like to mix and match but most of the time my matching just doesn’t work – and here’s why.
It wasn’t meant to be compatible.
God has meant for me to be clothed in righteousness – his righteousness. And the righteousness of God doesn’t go with anything else. It’s intended to stand alone. He wants for me to wear his righteousness and nothing else. Nothing else fits over it or under it. Nothing else accessorizes God’s righteousness. Instead anything else just detracts from his righteousness.
But I prefer to wear a piece of God’s righteousness along with a healthy dose of self righteousness. And then I like to accent my outfit with a few trinkets from the ways and thinking of the world and the passions of the flesh, some self-preservation, and the pursuit of my own agenda.
That’s not how it’s supposed to be. God’s righteousness is sufficient. It’s all I need. And there’s nothing I can add to it. In fact, anything I add to it or choose for it will just detract from God’s glory and the righteousness he’s already given me.
Lord, help me to rely completely on you.
How about you?
What are you wearing?
Does your outfit match?
Photo credit: epS0s.de
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- Matthew 3 (ronniemeek.blogspot.com)
