What to Wear....

I don't know about you, but I LOVE to shop. Blame it on me being a woman, but I can't have enough of my adventures to find the "perfect dress." I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have a large walk-in closet filled with elegant and sophisticated clothing. Oh, the joy it would be! What we wear says a lot about us. Although I am not the most stylish person, I do take pride in how I dress.  Coco Chanel once said, "When a woman dresses shabbily, people remember the dress.  When a woman dresses impeccably, people remember the woman."    I think that we can all agree that what we wear or put on each day is a very important aspect of daily life. Even the shoes we walk in matter. However, what is more important than what we physically wear is what we spiritually wear. The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 24, "...Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."  Now, I want to back up a little here to the beginning of Ephesians. As I started reading the first couple of chapters, key verses began to stand out to me.  Let's take a look at a couple of them:

• Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings...according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love (Ephesians 1: 4).
• For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10)

What do these verses have in common?  They show us that God has predestined us to accomplish His purpose. Before we were even born, God chose us. Before God created the heavens and the earth, he had it in his infinite mind that we would be His through the sacrifice on Calvary.  Not only that, but He already made up in His mind that we would be holy and without blame before him in love. In essence, he formed us knowing our final outcome even when we were unclear of it ourselves.  Often times, we get stuck in the mentality (even though we have trouble admitting it) that our Christian service is about our works and about our own righteousness. Hey, I've even stumbled into that kind of thinking myself. The truth is, our Christian service is about what Christ already did for us on Calvary.  When we are converted to this new life in Christ, we simply get to "put on" the works that God has already prepared for us to walk in. They're not ours, but His.  On our own, it is impossible for us to be holy and righteous.  The good news is, God is not telling us to be righteous and holy on our own. Now, back to my opening scripture. God is saying to us "...Put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."  In other words, we get to wear or "put on" His character for free; no charge to us believers. When we really grasp this, nothing is impossible.  We can live the Christian life we've always wanted and do the works God has called us to do because He is doing all the work.
    A couple of days ago, I sat at my desk in the morning before the start of school. I was thinking about a task that needed to be accomplished at my job, and to be honest, I was doubting whether or not I could do it. I opened my Bible and God directed me to Ephesians 2:10 where it says that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God had before ordained or planned out so we could walk in them. I have read this scripture many times, but it hit me in such a different way this time. I heard God's still small voice speak to me in that moment saying April, I've called you and have a purpose for you.  I've already prepared the works I have for you including this small task ahead of you. This task as well as the other works I have for the rest of your life are already done. Your job is simply to walk in them.  That's the benefit of being my child.  Wow!  I can't tell you how quickly that burden lifted. I felt such peace. I also felt spoiled by the Lord in that moment.  When I feel inadequate, its ok because I'm trusting in Him and not myself to do the job.  When my own works fail me, I can simply walk in his. You might be saying Sister, this sounds great and all, but I've been a believer for 10 or 20 years and can't stop sinning in a certain area.  How come my habit hasn't gone away since I have believed.  Well, that's a good question. The answer is simple.  Christ has done the work, but our job is to walk in it.  We still have to take the step into His will. Just like a million dollar check means nothing if it is never cashed, the same goes for this principle. If we don't place our feet on the right path, we will never be at a place where God can work through us.  God will not force His pre-accomplished works on us. We must be at a place of total connection and dependency on Him,  "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit [good works]; for without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:4-5). John tells us that, separated from Christ, we can do nothing. We must place ourselves where we can hear that still small voice; at a place where the Word of God can guide us.   You want to accomplish what God has for you, then take the next step and draw close to God (ie, prayer, fasting, and the Word).  I leave you with these last words. Walk in Christ's works, put on God's will. Take hold of everything that God has already done through you.  On the cross, Christ said, It is finished! My brother and sister, you are already finished, a completed masterpiece by faith.  Simply take hold of His hand and never let go.