Lent Devotional: What are you wearing?

There is an insurance commercial on television that asks, "What's in your wallet?"  I bet as you read that you actually heard the man's voice from the ad!  I'm not sure that having this insurance card in your wallet will really make or break you, should you have an accident, but the commercial is pretty convincing.  

There are a lot of things out there that we "need to have," aren't there?  We can open the mailbox and find coupons and good deals on nearly any and everything.  Bigger toys, nicer cars, fancier cell phones...and the list could go on and on.  When I was growing up it was clothes.  Never mind the thrift-shops, it was $50 name brand t-shirts that were the "in" thing.  

I was reminded in Bible study tonight of a Scripture passage that I really love.  It comes from the book of Colossians:

12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Here, Paul is encouraging these early Christians to dress the part.  Ever have to decide what to wear to a special event?  It is helpful to think about "putting on" this garment of love, as it is often a choice we have to make, rather than an attitude that just flows out of us naturally.  Like forgiveness, love is often something we must dedicate ourselves to choosing on a daily basis.  What would it look like for you to choose love?  Are there situations or people in your life that cause you great stress?  Choose to look at them through the lens of love.  

When we dedicate ourselves to this process we begin to see the image of God in others, as we also then reflect the image of God in us.  This connection goes far beyond our similarities and differences, calling us into the deep sacred connection of God's belovedness. 

Prayer:  Loving God show me how to choose love.  Help me to wear it proudly as I do my best to see You in others.  Help me also to see your image in myself, as blurred as it often seems to be.  Thank you for loving me, help me to fully receive that love this day.  Amen.