What Are You Wearing?

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”  (Romans 13:14 NKJV)
“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27 NKJV)
“And put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24 KJV)
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, manifold mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.” (Colossians 3:12-14 KJV)

 
“Put on,” used in these verses means ‘to be clothed in.’  Our clothing is a covering for our physical bodies.  It is protection from the elements, a covering for our vulnerability, provision for our warmth and comfort.  In the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit, they made coverings for themselves from fig leaves to hide the shame of their nakedness from God. (Genesis 3:7,10) And we have been doing it ever since; clothing ourselves in everything other than what we were truly meant to wear. 
 

                                                                                Covering
 
With the thread of sin I wove my clothes
Thinking I was covered; concealed
I stitched a shirt of brokenness
My true heart never revealed
 
I fashioned pants to cloak my shame
Fine linen, no fig leaves for me
I created shoes to disguise my walk
Covering what was crippled underneath
 
I donned a bonnet of righteousness
Made from my many good deeds
I wore a necklace of pride so bright
It blinded me to my deepest need
 
I made gloves to cloak my hands
Too fair to embrace the sun
I crafted a coat of heaviness
To cover what had grown numb
 
My face left uncovered, yet still veiled
The smile, my eyes, my pleasant voice
Clothes of falsehood, a well-fitted mask
My wardrobe, each piece, my choice
 
While wearing my self-made attire
A man appeared and held my gaze
He looked nothing at all like me
Wearing only a seamless robe of grace
 
As He passed, He spoke softly
“I can see beyond the external show.
If you are tired of all your pretense,
Follow me if you admire my clothes."  
 
I stood there for a moment startled
Undone, unsettled, feeling lost
Then I began to follow Him
Not knowing what it would cost
 
The path ahead began to narrow
No room but for only us two
The underbrush began to tear and rip
At the seams of old becoming new
 
We reached the end of the path
A glorious warm light began to glow
All I stood in, the clothes I’d made
Revealing all I did not know
 
A voice began to fill the air,
“Those clothes of yours would never do.
They were ill-fitting, unremarkable,
They speak nothing of what is true.”
 
“Lay down the garments of all that was
Let go of the clothes you’ve worn.
I’ve made all the clothes you’ll ever need
Take My covering and be reborn.”
 
“You were not made to wear deceit
Not made to be covered in death
Not made to form the clothes you wear
Come and behold the scarlet thread.”
 
“You were made to wear a robe of grace
Made for clothes that set you free
You were made to be clothed in beauty
Covered over in nothing but Me.”
 
“Clothed in my loving sacrifice
Clothed in my mercy and love
Clothed in all of my glory
Covered and seated above.”
 
“Now put on this robe I’ve given
Now put on the vesture of peace
Now you are covered in all I am
Now you are clothed in Me…”


​
So what are you wearing?  Are you cloaked in grief, unable to see the closet full of lighter clothes? Are you covered in a false identity, wearing only what others have told you to put on?  Are you mantled in pleasing people, validating your worth?  Are you draped in shame unable to put on grace?  Are you embroidered with guilt rather than enveloped in mercy?  

Jesus wore a crown of thorns that pierced His brow so you could wear the mind of Christ.  He wore bruises so you could wear peace.  He wore stripes so you could wear healing.  He wore His own blood like a garment so you could wear forgiveness like a flood.  He wore a veil of sin and darkness so He could remove the veil from your eyes and give you light.  He wore nails in His hands and feet so you could wear the precious jewels of His great love.  Jesus wore a Cross so you could wear HIs amazing grace.  He wore death so you could wear life.  He rose in garments of glory so you could be made new.   He is now draped in the Father ever making intercession for you.  


"Put on the Lord Jesus Christ..."  Clothe yourself in Him and Him alone.  



Written by Anne Marie Hawke
December 2020

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