Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. There's an old saying which
says you can judge a man by the clothes he wears. Now while that
saying may not be absolutely true, the apparel that a man
is covered in is most often a pretty accurate measuring stick of the
type of person he is. You don't expect to see a beggar
holding a will work for food sign wearing a Brooks Brothers
suit. Neither would you expect the
President of the United States to show up to a state dinner
in blue jeans with a hole in the seat. So you can tell a lot
about a person and where he is going by what he has on. Paul
uses the language of putting on in several instances where
he has reference to a garment. Paul is teaching us to be clothed
with mercy, kindness, humility, and patience. A man cannot be
clothed with apparel which does not belong to him or for which
he is not suited. We often hear some preach to
men the duty of being conformed to the image of Christ as if
it was within their own power to bring this to pass. Paul is
not instructing all men everywhere to put on these garments, which
he describes. Rather, he is speaking to those
in whom the Spirit of God has performed a work of grace, making
them new creatures. The only ones who can put on
these garments are those in whose closet the Lord has placed such
apparel, fitly suited for them. Paul said, but the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance. Against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lust. If we live in the Spirit, let
us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain
glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Now this
clothing is specifically designed and fitted for the true sons
of God. And they would be out of place to be clothed in anything
else. But no man can be clothed in this fine apparel by his own
efforts or according to his own will. Paul describes the power
which brings this to pass, for it is God which worketh in you
both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Part of the purpose
of God in redeeming a people in Christ Jesus is that they
would be conformed to his likeness in all things. In fact, the scripture
says that they are predestined to this conformity. If something
is predestined, then it must come to pass. So the Lord is
presently at work in his elect children to cause them to desire
to be clothed in the image of Jesus Christ. When they look
in the mirror, they are disappointed that they see so little of his
likeness. Their hearts are stirred to cry out unto him who clothed
the lilies of the field. Their true desire is to put on
these garments of finery and godly fashion, but they find
in themselves no ability to even open the closet door. By the
same grace which put these garments in their closet, they are clothed
with them. The exhortations of Paul to put
on these garments do not fall on deaf ears, nor do the people
of God have to be convinced of their suitableness for everyday
wear. The operation of God's grace
is manifest as He is bringing them to a place of maturity in
Jesus Christ. So the sons of God are exhorted
to put on these garments, while at the same time He is clothing
them with this same heavenly apparel. We are to put on the
garments which Christ has worn. Compassion. Paul says bowels
of mercies. This has reference to the very
deep inward concern that God's people should have towards their
fellow men in general, but most especially to their brethren
in the Lord. This was manifest in Jesus Christ as he is touched
with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted
like as we are, yet without sin. Kindness. Kindness is akin to
compassion towards those who do not deserve it. Kindness is
the antithesis of rudeness and vengeance, that in the ages to
come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus. Humility. Humbleness of mind
is that which recognizes that everything that we are and possess
is a gift from God and not the product of our own ability. Humility
is the springboard of all obedience. He took upon him the form of
a servant. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross. Meekness. Meekness is humility
applied to our relationships with others. It is the antithesis
of pride. A meek man is a servant of others.
The Lord Jesus said, Take my yoke upon you and learn of me,
for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your
souls. Long-suffering. This is patience and meekness
blended into one. It is the epitome of true love.
Be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot
and blameless, and account that the long-suffering of our Lord
is salvation. Are you clothed in Christ's garments?
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