DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT WEDNESDAY – WHAT ARE YOU WEARING FOR CHRISTMAS?

Probably every new and eagerly expected garment ever put on since clothes came in fell a trifle short of the wearer's expectation. - Charles Dickens.

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. - Galatians 3:25-27. (ESV)

I'm reminded of E.B. White's comment: "People have re-cut their clothes to follow the fashion... People have remodeled their ideas too, taken in their convictions a little at the waist, shortened the sleeves of their resolve, and fitted themselves out in a new intellectual ensemble copied from a smart design out of the very latest page of history."

When slavery to fashion invades the church, our latest ideas are yesterday's fads. We adopt the world's agenda , just a few years too late. Many churchmen sport theological bell-bottoms. - Charles Colson.

I know it’s Christmas time, and we are about to celebrate His Birth, so talking about his death doesn’t make much sense, but the baby Jesus has grown up now, and He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Saviour of mankind, and He has been for the past two thousand years. He has taken on His mantle of Mighty God...

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. - Isa 9:6-7.

Our text today, talks about putting on Christ. “Putting on” means to be clothed with Christ. So I am asking this question of you; what are you wearing today? I hope your answer is “Clothed with Christ.” Anything else is simply out of style by heaven's standards, no matter what designer fashions you may be wearing. The “Putting on” of Christ according to the gospel, consists not in outward replication, but in a new birth, a complete change.

London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior.

As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage.

"Forget about the repairs," the buyer said. "When I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want the building; I want the site."

Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we become God's, the old life is over (2 Cor. 5:17). He makes all things new. All he wants is the site and the permission to build. - Ian L. Wilson.

If your answer is the opposite, then you can be clothed with Christ by surrendering your life to Jesus as your Saviour through faith; believe that He is God's Son who died for you, trust that He rose from the dead to give you life, confess Christ as your Lord and Saviour, trusting him for your salvation, and share with him in his death, burial, and resurrection through water baptism.

The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ threw him a passport, and took him into Paradise. - D. L. Moody.

He promises to send his Spirit to live inside you, and to forgive you all of your sins. You will be God's child and have a home waiting for you in heaven. For those of us who are Christians, these thoughts are a reminder of what God has done for us and what he expects of us. If you are not a Christian, the world doesn't have to be a cold and lonely place at this time; the Lord Jesus can be with you everywhere you go, if you will respond to him.

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior. – Source Unknown.

IT’S YOUR CHOICE, BUT WHY NOT BE WELL DRESSED FOR CHRISTMAS?

Loving Father, thank you that you provided a way for making me your child, and for clothing me in your righteousness. Thank you for making it possible for me to call you Father, and to have Jesus as my older brother. Thank you, Father, for Jesus, in whose wonderful and mighty Name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY