BUILT DIFFERENT WEEK 5: FIT CHECK
You may well have heard one of these quotes about clothing or fashion. Mark Twain coined the phrase, “Clothes make the man.” In more modern times, Rachel Zoe was attributed with saying, “Style is a way of saying who you are without having to speak.” Either way you look at it, the reality is that we often judge a person’s lifestyle, belief system, or station of life by what we see when we look at how they are dressed. In some cases it is very easy, particularly if we see someone in a uniform (like a soldier or police officer). But in other instances, it may not be so easy. We see someone dressed very neatly or very trendy, and we assume they have it all together. And just the opposite, we see someone who looks disheveled or dirty, and we can immediately assume they are homeless or down on their luck. But we all know that those preconceived ideas or thoughts can be misleading (or flat out wrong).
Just like our clothing, our lives can (and will) be judged by what others see but cannot be measured by our private spirituality. We need those private moments of growth and development, but what people really need to see is the character of Jesus displayed in real life. In Colossians 3:10, it reads, “Put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become more like him.” (NLT) In other words…become more like Jesus. Then the apostle Paul gives us a list of attributes we should “clothe” ourselves in. Things like compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, gratitude, and love. These attributes are exactly describing the character of Christ. When we put on these attributes of a well-formed life we are putting the character of Jesus on display in everyday relationships.
So, let me ask a couple of questions. What do you need to “put on” today? In what aspects of life do you need help when it comes to “wearing” this attribute in front of others? If those closest to you were asked what they experienced you “wearing,” what would they say? People (whether fairly or unfairly) will judge you based on what they see, so let’s determine to do our best at putting on the character of Jesus every day so that what they see is the best reflection of him when they interact with us.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
When you look at a person for the first time, how much does their initial appearance affect how you might interact with them? Discuss how that impacts your ability to build or not build a relationship with them.
Read Colossians 3:10-17. In your own words, what does it mean to put on a new nature and to become more like Christ?
From the list of attributes Paul gives us in verses 12-14, which do you find the most difficult to “put on”? The easiest?
In light of this list, what do you believe those closest to you would say (if they were asked what they experienced you “wearing” when they encountered you)? Why?
How can we help each other to more consistently make sure we are clothing ourselves in the attributes and the character of Jesus? What is one thing you can do personally to clothe yourself this way?