Clothed in Christ

v

              As I recall, it was my daughter who first “introduced” me to the show, “What Not to Wear” on cable TV a few years back.  During each episode, two young, stylish hosts take on some poor, fashion-challenged adult and attempt to drag the poor soul out of whatever rut she is in and bring her up to date.  Often the candidate has been brought to the attention of the show by a daughter or friend.

The program usually starts with the hosts actually going through the candidate’s closet, item by item, explaining why each piece of clothing is no longer suitable and then throwing it away in a large trash can.  It is actually a little painful to watch their “victim” as she reluctantly watches some old favorites—and I emphasize the adjective “old” here—leaving her possession.

            I will say by the end of the show, the transformation in appearance is rather amazing.  After shopping for new clothes, the freshly clad lady is then put into the hands of make-up and hair styling experts.  In the final scene, the fashionable and newly confident individual walks into a room of friends who cannot believe what is right in front of their eyes.  The whole process—I must confess—is fun to watch. 

            This morning a devotion reading reminded me of this show and presented a spiritual kind of “makeover” Christians should willingly submit to.  Being followers of Jesus Christ does not keep us from feeling grumpy, discouraged, angry or even unforgiving.  We can get into ruts of poor thinking and less-than-loving living.  Thankfully, God does not leave us to grapple with these feelings and temptations on our own.   We can come into God’s presence and be made new, transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Paul instructed the Colossians to “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering . . . but above all things, put on love” (Col. 3:12,14).  We are to be new creations, cleaned out and properly attired—far from the lights and cameras of cable TV!