I couldn’t believe my eyes. 

Hanging in my son’s closet was a shirt I had bought him months before. To my surprise, the price tags still dangled from the collar. Apparently, the shirt had never been worn!

As a dad who works hard to provide for his family, this was beyond frustrating. I didn’t buy the shirt so it could be hidden away in his closet, never to see the light of day. I bought it for him to wear and enjoy. 

So why in the world had he never put it on?     

Without warning, the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart,  “Jonathan, you do the exact same thing. You often neglect to put on the clothes Jesus purchased for you.”

Ouch.  

The Spirit then gently reminded me of Paul’s words in Colossians 3.  

Having trusted in Jesus for salvation, we have been “raised with Him,” brought to life through His sacrificial death and resurrection (Colossians 3:1). Incidentally, we can’t live like we used to. We are called to “clothe ourselves” with Christlike character, showcasing that salvation has truly made a difference in our lives.  

And what difference is that?

Jesus has transformed us into brand-new people with brand-new identities. We are “holy,” set apart for His purposes (verse 12).  We are God’s “dearly loved” sons and daughters (verse 12).  

However, this new identity can’t just be something we embrace in theory but not in practice. It must manifest itself in everyday life. So, practically speaking, we “take off” what belongs to our old identity- “sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires…, anger, rage, lies,” etc. and put on our new, Christlike “clothes” (Colossians 3:5-10). 

Yet, we often leave “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” hanging in the closet, if you will, content to walk around wearing our old wardrobe (Colossians 3:12). 

This should give us a serious pause.  

If we really want to dress in the character of Christ, it will take a series of deliberate choices…much like the way we put on our actual, physical clothes.  

For example, every night before bed, I make a mental note of what I’m planning to wear the next day. After I wake up and shower, I walk into my closet and get dressed. 

I once heard a pastor say, “Our clothes don’t automatically jump from our closet to our bodies. We have to get them off the hanger or out of the drawer and physically put them on.” 

The same goes for our spiritual clothes too.   

We must intentionally choose to put on “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” each and every day. In reality, it’s a choice we must make multiple times throughout the day, not just in the morning.   

I’ve found that when I’m in the middle of a stressful situation or some kind of relational conflict, I naturally operate out of my old nature. Therefore, in the heat of the moment, I must consciously choose to wear clothes that are consistent with my new nature. 

And I’m called to make this choice over and over again. After all, my character should be an outward reflection of the inner commitment I’ve made to follow Jesus…even in the challenging scenarios of life.  

Is it easier said than done? You bet. 

But Jesus gives us grace and strength for the journey.

So, why not give it a try? Make the intentional choice to put on the clothes that Jesus bought for you.

Now, if you’ll pardon me, I’m going to go talk to my son about that shirt.  

Written by Jonathan Munson, Executive Director, RFTH