Spiritual PJs

This thought began with a Sunday School discussion on some verses from Colossians chapter 3...  "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues  put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."   One friend pointed out that Paul does not assume that we are already dressed in these things, but he tells us to actively put them on.  During this discussion I realized that some days I wake up so weary from the previous day's battle that I lounge around in my spiritual pajamas.  Some days I am so sore from the fight that the very act of dressing myself for the day hurts, so rather than going out in my armor I hide in "comfortable misery."

Ephesians 6:14-17 says, " Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  

We have a lot of gear to carry, but it's there to aid us and to make us effective witnesses.   Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, peace, forgiveness and love are our clothing.  Truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, and salvation are our armor.  We are given everything we need, but we must make the effort to put it on.  Just because you have a winter coat doesn't mean you will be warm, you have to wear it, and a coat of mail will not protect you unless it is fastened in place.  That is not to say that God will not protect us in our weakness, but we have a responsibility to be active participants in the fight.  

If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, the truth is you lack even spiritual pajamas; you're naked.  Don't let yourself shiver to death!  Put on the gift of God!  Romans 6:23 explains that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal Life in Christ Jesus our Lord,"  and 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 reveals how the gift was purchased.  "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..."  Just ask Him to save you (Romans 10:13)  I have received this gift, and I want to pass it on to you so that we can both get dressed to meet the day.