Opening Prayer: “Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.”
Daily Scripture Reading:
- Genesis 37:23, 31-33
- Colossians 3:12
- I Peter 5:5
- James 4:10
My 10 year old daughter has a “unique” style. She has been opinionated about her clothes since she could slip a tutu on and no matter how “colorful” she looks when she emerges from her room each morning, I know that every piece of clothing, every pair of shiny high tops, every accessory, and every bit of purple dye and glitter in her hair was very much intentional. Though most of us wear less sequins than my girl on a daily basis, none of us clothe ourselves on accident.
Joseph needed a change of clothes. The robe representing a father’s sinful favoritism and a son’s youthful arrogance wasn’t the right fit for the next season. Though the brothers thought they were stripping Joseph of his destiny and destroying his honor, they were really just helping him out of some colorful self-importance that would be cumbersome on the journey ahead.
The verses we read today in Colossians and I Peter both mention some wiser outfit choices. We are told to clothe ourselves in compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, and humility. We are to put these attributes and attitudes on as daily and as intentionally as my daughter chooses her glitter and jewelry.
James 4:10 tells us that when we humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up. The Lord is about to lift Joseph up out of that cistern as well, first in the form of Midianite Merchants, then as an important servant in Potiphar’s house, then as a dream interpreter to Pharaoh, and finally as a savior to his family and all of Egypt. But before any of those new dreams could become a reality, the pride of his first dream needed to be stripped off of him, just like his robe. When the Lord lifted Joseph up, he was humbled.
As you choose to clothe yourself today in compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience and humility, notice any areas in your life where they are ill-fitting. Like Joseph, we may need to lose a little pride for them to fit properly.
Today’s Big Questions: Do you need a change of spiritual clothes today? Are you wearing the heavy robe of pride or arrogance in any areas of your life, or in any relationships?
Prayer Response: Ask the Holy Spirit to be your spiritual tailor today. Ask him to make the necessary alterations to your attitude so that you are clothed in compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, and humility. Confess any areas of pride or arrogance.
Optional Action Step: As you get dressed today, declare Colossians 3:12 over yourself, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Consider posting this verse in your closet or on your bathroom mirror.
Closing Prayer: “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” -Ephesians 3:20-21