Basic to the basics ...

Back to the basics...

Getting dressed in the morning... 

This morning as I faced a new week I needed to remind myself of how to get dressed.  This is a lesson I have heard and taught so many times.  Yet I need to go back to the first things.  

Learning again that I must clothe myself in my New Nature.  

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:12-17 NLT)

 • Tender hearted mercy

 • Kindness

 • Humility

 • Gentleness

 • Patience 

 • Forgiveness

 • Love (over all and binding them together)

 • Peace (to rule in our hearts)

 • Be thankful (to each other)

 • Filled with the Word of God

 • Teach and encourage with biblical and Godly wisdom

 • Sing songs from the Spirit with heartfelt gratitude to God

 ***** whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father

This is the New Nature it does not fit over anything, rather all other things must be striped off (take off) before it can be put on. And the armor of God fits perfectly over these clothes (robes of righteousness).  

Side note: the amour of Godd fits terribly when we try to put it on over the clothes of our old nature. Imagine a military warrior in his filthy stinking clothes from being up all night from playing around, simply throwing on flack jacket, gun belt, helmet etc unshaven and unkept to show up for duty.  It not only looks bad, but is a poor representative.  Don't get me wrong the armour still has value and works, so if you are called into battle while in the midst of your old nature (anger, lies, impurity, etc) by all means put on the armour of God but I am just saying that a quick military shower and shave (by the Power of God's Word and Spirit), and putting on the proper uniform of the new nature, as the under layer of your armour is what is best. 

So this morning I remind myself of what I to get dressed in and a stop to be washed in the Word, reminding myself of the high price Jesus Christ paid to wash me in His blood, and I rise joyfully and gratefully to live to please Him.  I intentionally put on these things

 • Tender hearted mercy

 • Kindness

 • Humility

 • Gentleness

 • Patience 

 • Forgiveness

 • Love 

 • Peace (to rule in our hearts)

 • thankfulness (to each other)

 • ... Word of God

 • ... wisdom ... 

 • ... heartfelt gratitude to God 

The clothes Christ follower are made of these things. 

When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in the splendor of His glory. 

And have clothed yourselves with the new spiritual self, which is [ever in the process of being renewed and remolded into fuller and more perfect knowledge upon knowledge after the image the likeness of Him Who created it. 

(Colossians 3:4, 10 AMP)