Put On

Christian Working Woman Transcript

Monday, February 25, 2008 - The Well Dressed Christian

Did you know that there is a special wardrobe designed just for Christians? Yes, Christians need to wear a specialized wardrobe–one that sets us apart from others and identifies us as people who love and serve Jesus Christ. I don't mean a uniform or some strict dress code. The wardrobe that I'm talking about is found in Colossians 3:

And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful.

Let's look more closely at these inner garments which we need to "put on."

The first garment is COMPASSION, which can be described as a deep feeling of sharing the suffering of another. You know, it's not hard to find suffering people these days. Undoubtedly you have suffering people all around you where you work. Are you aware of their suffering? Do you care?

It seems to me that all too often I'm quick to blame people and judge them without stopping to think of what they have endured, or why they are the way they are.

Don't you think compassion would look good on your job? If you wear it, you won't be so quick to condemn or judge. You'll give people room to make mistakes. Do you pray for the people you work with? Start praying for them, and watch how much more compassionate you feel toward them.

KINDNESS is the second garment in the closet of a well dressed Christian. Have you been too busy to wear any kindness lately? Do you take it on and off, depending on your mood or who you're with? Sometimes we are least kind to the people we're with the most. It seems we save our kind behavior for people we don't see very often, as though it were in short supply. We really need to show kindness to those people we work with. God has plenty of it, so wear it to work everyday. You'll look terrific!