The fashions of the world continually change. Year by year, people in every country and culture practice new trends and techniques to stay on top of the latest styles. Even so, the excitement, beauty and popularity of it all fades.
The Word of God shares some beauty standards as well. When His ideas of beauty are applied to our lives, we are meant to keep them throughout our lives. God’s desires are not trendy, and his methods and techniques for beauty have not changed. His ways work, and they last. There are none so beautiful as those who pursue beauty according to the Word of God.
What are those ways that we should follow after? What does the Lord want me to be clothed with?
First and foremost, we must start with salvation. Isaiah 61:10 says, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation…”
Salvation is our foundation. Being born again is like a newborn baby who needs to be dressed. The Father knows what attributes the baby needs to be clothed with, in order to grow into a healthy, thriving child.
Once the foundation is in place and we begin to grow, God lets His desires be known, and it becomes our responsibility to trust His leading, and to apply His ways to our lives. Colossians 3:12-13 tells us, “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
Our Savior wants us to be clothed with the very best. When we think of others who exemplify compassion and kindness to those around them, their personal beauty grows in our minds instantly. Humility, meekness and patience in others also causes our admiration to elevate because of such beautiful qualities. When the Word of God shows us the attributes He wants us to have, He introduces us to incorruptible beauty that never fades and never gets old. The beauty He desires us to have goes beyond cultural approval by socialites and fashion-conscious critics. It is what changes lives. It leads by example when society’s broken and sinful people display their imperfections. It offers hope to the hopeless, love to the unlovable and patience to those who are difficult. It shows mankind that there is a better way, a kind way, a compassionate way.
While the ways of the world look for solutions brought on by a heavy hand of oppression, harshness or ways unlike God, His children know the better way. The Gospel is all about redemption and restoration. When we have been redeemed, let us show our gratitude by pleasing our Lord. Let us grow in His attributes, that we may offer His redemption and restoration to others. The way He desires us to be clothed looks beautiful on all of us.
