Funny story, but I ended up wearing a tie to go out on an interview yesterday. It’s the first time I’ve worn a tie in over 2 years. For fun, I posted a picture of me in the tie right before my interview and it’s gotten more responses from people than any nature or family picture I’ve ever posted before on twitter or facebook. Who knew my clothes would have made such an impact!
One of the things I noticed while I was preparing for my interview was how different I felt wearing dress clothes. I was confident and ready to impress. Not that I’m some kind of fashion model in my tie, but that I felt like I was ready to face any question or situation the interviewer would throw at me and knock it out of the park. I was ready. It was the clothes. Had I been dressed in casual attire, I feel as if I would have given casual answers. My mindset was being dictated by how I was dressed.
As I noticed all of the commentary going on about the photo of me in a tie, it got me to thinking about another set of clothes and how they made me feel. As a Christian, I have been taught that I have been clothed by God in righteousness and salvation. Lately, this suit hasn’t made me look good. It isn’t the clothes, but it’s the wearer of the clothes that needs to clean up. You see, I’ve gone through some experiences that have negatively impacted my spirit and outlook. It’s caused me to succumb to a lot of pessimism and negativity. Regardless of the clothes I am wearing, my attitude and language has been one of feeling defeated and without worth.
In Isaiah 61:10 we read about the clothes we’ve been freely given:
I will sing for joy in God,
explode in praise from deep in my soul!
He dressed me up in a suit of salvation,
he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo
and a bride a jeweled tiara.
Do I realize that no matter what clothes I may physically put on to start my day, I always have on a suit of salvation and a robe of righteousness? The simple answer is, no I do not always realize this. I have accepted the beautiful wardrobe Christ has given me, but I wear it with a sour attitude and an unappreciative expression.
How about you? Do you always remember that you are as dapper as groom in his tuxedo or as stunning as a bride in her jeweled tiara? God wants us to remember this and to be forever thankful for his grace in our lives, as he shares his grace through us for others.
Related posts:
- Service is not an act…it’s an attitude
- Sunday night reflections
- Let’s be the answer!
- Daily Devotion: Proverbs 8
- are you a selfless friend?
Tags: attitude, isaiah 61:10, righteousness, salvation
Dave, great post – I think this initial realization you had about clothes is the same in worship. Contemporary Xtian worship has been so “anti-old school” so we ripped off the ties, got rid of the suits, etc, proclaiming God loves me the way I am, and this casual dress is who I am. Some churches these days have people coming to worship in shorts, flip flops, tattered clothes, etc. Not as a fashion statement, but rather it’s what they just threw on without any notice or thought in the morning.
There is something to be said for dressing with intentionality whether it is casual or formal wear. Our worship probably is expressed differently when we our dress is put together for the occasion.
This applies to our live 7 days a week too, even when you’re out in the yard or going to the mall. The question you might ask is, am I presenting a positive image as a witness to the world? Or is the slobbery that I might have slid into over time really what I want to project? Is it what God wants of me too?
This cost is just a couple of extra minutes in the closet. Hey, the cost isn’t that much either (like 4 bucks for this http://bit.ly/aYGxm8 promo codes: FREEINMAY and THANKS1498) in dollars too!
Thanks for the thoughts!
Good stuff Dave.
Thank you Steve!
Good stuff Dave.