You Haven’t Worn LOVE in Awhile

As I prepped for our show today … I was struck by this verse to clothe ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. To be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense and to do it quickly AND to bind everything up with LOVE.

It seemed like a TALL order .. but then as I got thinking,  I thought about how amazing it would be if everyone who followed Jesus lived this way. Imagine clothing ourselves with these things ..

People’s needs would be met. There would be less angst and heartache and regrets. There would be less ‘fronting’ and ‘managing’ all the facade. There would be less people in therapy (possibly) and more people in life giving communities. There would be more grace to give and to receive. There would be less bruised and wounded families and marriages. There would be less wars and fights and hurtful words slung around carelessly. There would be children raised strong and courageous and kind and gentle. There would be children raised in loving families. There would be adults who would be honest and open and disciplined and humble. There would be adults who chose love instead of racism and hate.

The world would be in a much better place. A LOVING place.

And I’m the first to raise my hand and say – this is the kind of person I want to be. Should be. Need to be. Desire to be. And day by day, I get better. And day by day, I fall miserably backwards. And day by day, I see the love and faithfulness of God lift me up and I hear Him say ‘Melinda, try this one on for size, try this colour on, try this outfit {of love} that you haven’t worn in awhile, try this new style for spring … it will really look good on you! Trust me. I know what looks best on you.’