A Beautiful Wardrobe
Sep 3 2024 - Eric Buresh
True Gospel transformation always, 100% of the time, comes from beholding the beauty of Jesus Christ as revealed by the Word and the Holy Spirit. There are many other kinds of transient, temporal, humanistically driven transformation that can resemble a gospel transformation, but each variant ultimately shows itself a very weak substitute for the real thing – putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:27.
Colossians 3:10-12 describe the transformation/renewal as “put[ting] on the new self,” and explaining that the “new self” is one “after the image of its Creator,” i.e., “Christ is all” of this new self. True Gospel transformation is putting on the beautiful wardrobe of Christ. Verse 12 gives us some specific images of His wardrobe:
1. Compassionate Hearts: The Tenderness of Christ
The compassionate heart is one that feels deeply for the sufferings and needs of others. It is a heart moved by love, just as our Lord was moved with compassion when He saw the multitudes weary and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36). Christ’s compassion led Him to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and ultimately to lay down His life for us. It is a beautiful adornment of our Savior. As we put on Christ, our hearts are transformed to beat in rhythm with His—hearts that are tender, empathetic, and full of mercy. How beautiful it is when the church of Christ is known for its compassion!
2. Kindness: The Graciousness of Christ
Kindness is the gentle, gracious disposition that seeks the good of others. It is the spirit of Christ, who was kind to the ungrateful and wicked, who welcomed sinners and outcasts, and who treated others with gentleness and respect. In a world where harshness and cruelty often prevail, how beautiful is the kindness of Christ! When we put on this garment, we reflect the beauty of our Lord’s graciousness. Our words and actions become conduits of His love, drawing others to the Savior who is kind beyond measure.
3. Humility: The Lowliness of Christ
Humility is the lowliness of mind that esteems others above oneself. It is the attitude of Christ, who, though He was in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:6-7). How beautiful is the humility of Christ! The King of glory stooped to wash the feet of His disciples. He humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross for our salvation. When we put on humility, we adorn ourselves with the beauty of Christ’s lowliness. We become willing to serve others, to put their needs before our own, and to walk in the footsteps of our King.
4. Meekness: The Gentleness of Christ
Meekness is the gentle strength that does not retaliate or seek revenge but trusts in God’s justice. It is the spirit of Christ, who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23). The meekness of Christ is a beauty that shines in the face of opposition and injustice. When we put on the robe of meekness, we reflect the gentle strength of our Savior. We become peacemakers, bearing witness to the power of our transformed lives.
5. Patience: The Longsuffering of Christ
Patience is the ability to endure suffering, wrongs, and delays without losing heart. It is the longsuffering of Christ, who bore with His disciples’ slowness to understand, who endured the mockery and scorn of sinners, and who waits patiently for the repentance of the lost. Oh, the beauty of the patience of Christ! He does not give up on us, but lovingly endures our weaknesses and failures. When we put on patience, we become beautifully adorned vessels of His enduring love, able to bear with one another and to persevere in faith and hope.
As we behold this beautiful image of our Creator, these graces adorn our lives, reflecting the character of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the essence of our new life in Christ: we walk the runway of life with a beautiful wardrobe for all to see, manifesting His adornments in a world that is undeniably ugly without Him and hungry for true beauty whether it knows it or not.