God’s Designer Label

Someone asked me the other day if I collected anything. After thinking about it for a minute, I quickly responded, with “No, I do not collect anything really.” However, that evening I was thinking about that question as I was standing in my closet getting ready for church and I realized for the first time, that I am indeed a collector! I have a huge collection of BLACK SKIRTS! You would think that one black skirt would be sufficient, but apparently, it is not. Of course, each skirt is a little different…some with ruffles, some long, some knee length, some that are more dressy, some that are casual -- one just wouldn‘t be enough! In talking with several of my friends, it seems that they, too, have a collection of black skirts. What is it about black skirts? I guess one of the things that I found is that they are a basic in my wardrobe.

Do you know that God has a basic wardrobe plan for us? In studying the scriptures, I have found that He has another preference for my wardrobe besides that black skirt. God’s request for me is to be the unique individual that He created and the new wardrobe that he provided to me when I became His child is the most fitting for me. Have you ever tried to squeeze into something that you just “knew” would fit and it didn’t? Or, something that you thought that would really look great on you until you tried it on only to be dismayed? God’s wardrobe does not disappoint! Let me tell you about God’s wardrobe for us!

In the book of Colossians, Chapter 3, the Word of God tells us about this wonderful wardrobe. I am going to use The Message translation as I thought it put it in a very interesting perspective. “You are done with that old life! It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you have stripped off and put in the fire. Now you are dressed in a NEW WARDROBE! Every item of your new way of life is custom made by the Creator, with his label on it! All the old fashions are now obsolete. From now on, everyone is defined by Christ!…So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe that 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 IS YOUR BASIC, ALL PURPOSE GARMENT. Never be without it.”

Isn’t that beautiful?! God has created us, and along with our creation, HE specifically designed the basics that we should put on. He has created a DESIGNER LABEL just for us!! So often it is easy to become absorbed in the world’s view of natural beauty and the needs that accompany it that we forget that when we follow God’s plan, spiritual beauty is sure to follow. We are His unique creation and design; and if we follow His wardrobe plan for us, our lives will exude His beauty in us!

So, Sunday as I stood in my closet viewing my collection of black skirts, these verses came to my mind and my overwhelming desire was to have the wardrobe that HE has designed as my basic….compassion, kindness, humility…and the list goes on. We should never leave home without them!