Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:12-14 ESV

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 ESV

It’s Sunday morning. We have three large dogs, two Labs and a German Shepherd. They always seem to be the most difficult when they know we are getting ready to go somewhere. They have to be fed, watered and walked. And regularly they decide they need to run off to check on a smell or a sound or just to run and bark. They always come back, but at their pace, not mine. Now I’m late for church, with dog hair on black pants, frustrated and not in the best mood. Not how I should go to church or anywhere!

How many of you have been there at one time or another? All of us? Paul’s advice in our verses from Colossians gives me and all of us advice for what we should “put on” each day, how we should “dress!”

Before we go out into the world to deal with people (or animals!) we should clothe ourselves with compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Perhaps we should adorn ourselves with all the fruits of the Spirit. We should strive to overlook the faults of others; being quick to forgive and encourage. But foremost, we should put on love.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a ESV

This week I invite everyone to join me in “putting on,” clothing ourselves, with caring hearts, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Let’s go into the world “dressed” in the love of Jesus!

I thank God for each of you! And I thank you for joining me this week as we “dress for success” and shine the love of Jesus for all to see.

Blessings and love as we choose to “dress for success!”