CLOTHED IN CHRISTLIKENESS: DRAPED IN LOVE

March 14, 2022

Today, I (Susie) saw some women from India wearing gorgeous, silken saris. They were completely wrapped in the luxurious cloth, literally clothed in beauty. We are to be clothed in the virtues of Jesus Christ. Just as we consciously put on the armor of the Lord (Ephesians 6) each morning, we should also don compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. This cannot be done in our own strength. We must walk closely with the Lord and allow him to robe us in His righteousness. We are to forgive as the Lord forgave us. Quite a statement. He forgave us completely on the cross even though we were not deserving and had not yet asked for forgiveness. He did not wait for us to earn His forgiveness in any way, shape, or form. Nor should we demand a changed life of our brothers and sisters before we extend forgiveness.

            Paul uses the same verb translated “clothe” in verse 12 for “put on” in verse 14. Remember the saris the women were wearing?

sari – Asian woman’s garment – a traditional garment worn by women in or from the Indian subcontinent, consisting of a long rectangle of fabric reaching the feet, wrapped and pleated around the waist over an underskirt and choli, and draped over the shoulder.

Encarta Dictionary

Love is to be our sari, worn over all the other virtues of Christ. The love of Christ emanating from us will catch the eye of many who need to know him as those saris caught my eye today. Allow Jesus’s love to flow from you like the beautifully flowing silk of a sari, and He will draw people into his family through you.

List some loving actions to be woven into your “sari” of Jesus’s love. We’ll start you out with listening to or praying for a friend, helping a neighbor, sending an encouragement note . . .

Father, help us to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ each day. Help us to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient with our co-workers, family, friends, and especially those who need to see You in us. Help us to forgive others as Jesus forgave us and help us to exude the beauty of your love.