Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Col. 3:12)
Expanded Passage: Colossians 3:12-14
In our current digital age, there is an intriguing fashion trend. On social media, you can find a popular hashtag for “outfit of the day” or #OOTD. Fashion influencers use it to share daily outfits with their followers. Most of us make a daily choice of what we will wear as well. Sometimes you put on clothes and the fit and look are perfect; other times, clothing seems to magically shrink in the closet, and the fit isn’t what you remember. Sometimes an outfit serves a specific purpose, so each item must match that purpose.
The #OOTD that children of God are called to wear must also be chosen daily, serving a specific purpose: to reflect the image of God in the world. As God’s dearly loved children, we are called to put on the clothing of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. The fashion for children of God should be a perfect fit, right? Perfectly sized every time you put it on. But sometimes these pieces just don’t fit right: one day, gentleness is hard to put on, or patience seems to shrink on occasion. So what happens when the outfit doesn’t fit quite right?
As we continue to clothe ourselves as God’s dearly loved children, through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through us, our spiritual clothing will become the perfect fit for every occasion.
Review the attributes in this verse; are you wearing them today?
Ashley Gage is an associate chaplain at a Christian university and contributing writer for This Holy Calling: Daily Wisdom from Women in Ministry (WPH).
excerpt from This Holy Calling, WPH
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
