Daily Reading: Daily Reading: Colossians 3:12–17
As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Col. 3:12)
God’s names reveal so much about His character. For example, Jehovah (or Yahweh) Jireh shows God as our provider (Gen. 2:14); Jehovah Ro’i presents God as our shepherd (Ps. 23:1); Jehovah Tsidkenu reveals God as our righteousness (Jer. 23:6).
Thinking about God’s names led me to think about my own name. What character qualities come to mind when people think or say “Mary McNeil”? If God’s name is Provider, Shepherd, Righteousness, and so on, what is my name?
Sometimes my name isn’t what I want it to be. Sometimes it’s Complainer, Procrastinator, or Discontented. But because I’m one of “God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,” my name has been changed. It’s now Lover, Peacemaker, Spreader of Joy, Merciful, Gentle, and more.
Once this clicked with me, I couldn’t wait to tell my husband. When I finished, I said, “Now if I could only figure out how to remember my ‘names,’ so I live them every day.”
He smiled and said, “I can tell you how.”
He told me to give every article of clothing I wear one of my names. So, I could put on my socks and let one be love and another peace. My pants could represent joy, and my shirt might signify gentleness.
I’m not sure if that’s what Paul meant when he told us to “clothe” ourselves with qualities that reflect Christ, but I know it’s a great way to remember who we are, who we represent, and what the world needs from us every day.
Dress appropriately today!
Mary McNeil lives in Erie, Pennsylvania, and enjoys jet-skiing, sailing, reading, and hanging out with her family and three dogs.
