As blessed ones chosen by God to become disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to put our old ways behind us and live our faith by Jesus' example. We need to put on the beautiful new clothes from God and by our actions show that we are Christians. Paul provides a strategy to help us live for God day by day:

1)      Imitate Christ's compassionate, forgiving attitude;

2)      let love guide your life;

3)      let the peace of Christ rule in your heart;

4)      always be thankful;

5)      keep God's Word in you at all times; and

6)      live as Jesus Christ's representative

All the virtues that Paul encourages us to develop are perfectly bound together by love. As we clothe ourselves with these virtues, the last garment we are to put on is love, the most beautiful and useful garment in our wardrobe.

In order for us to nurture the fruit of the Spirit inside us - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - we must leave behind our anger, prejudices, dissensions, and immoral ways. If we desire to become more generous, as I believe God wants for us, we will have to make decisions that cause us to leave some behaviors behind. Let God help us take on a new way of life - wearing a new set of clothes - that will renew our spirits and change us from the inside out.

May you be touched by God's amazing grace today and feel his presence as you wear your love.

~Harry Brubeck