GodReflection: The Ultimate IN Sider.
What should I wear? Ever since Adam and Eve designed their first fig leaf apparel the same question, spoken or unspoken, makes its way through the generations.
When I type ‘Dress for Success’ into a search engine over six billion articles await across the datasphere of the internet. Like the shepherd boy David’s experiment with King Saul’s armor and choosing instead his own simple garment with sling and stone pouch accessories, todays near eight billion people still ask and answer that question with personal bias.
In the current series of posts, we find the apostle Paul confined to Roman house arrest and we listen to his in Christ description revealed to him by The Holy.
Thus far our focus centers around an attempt to grasp the depth of his in Christ letter to the Ephesian church. From the start of chapter one, we follow his ink quill. Today it reaches a close in chapter six. I think back over what he has traced since he began with, Bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing that comes from heaven. God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless in God’s presence before the creation of the world (1:3-4).
Now, the apostle gets specific. He tells us how to dress for both peace and conflict. It is an apparel to aid in conflict avoidance yet also a wardrobe to serve when peace is broken. Best of all, it is an effective dress for Satan’s attacks. Previously, the letter supplied a basic dress code for our walk in Christ. We are to radiate love, humility, gentleness, patience, peace, hope, unity (4:2-4), justice, and holiness (4:24).
As he closes his letter, the old and experienced tent maker continues with his quill to describe important articles of clothing, with appropriate accessories, all designed by the Spirit for us as insiders in Christ. These articles protect the rest of our clothing. Each day I want to remember three special dress items, along with three important accessories provided by The Holy. Together they make up my full wardrobe affirmed by God to be sufficient for any situation I may encounter.
First, the three special dress items. Ready to take my first step, I stand firm (6:13) and straight. My belt is truth. It is special. I am wrap and secured with truth (6:14) around my waist. My protective shirt is justice (6:14). My confidence is not in myself but in the Holy—Justice is in God’s hands. To facilitate my pace, my feet are covered with Spirit-designed shoes to carry good news and peace (6:15). Peace and good news are to accompany every step.
Now for three vital accessories. In Christ, I have confident that I will always appear in public with my shield of faith (6:16) a shield that grows stronger with each day it is buckled around my forearm. It offers absolute protection from evil darts and arrows (6:17). The design of my headgear uses protective spirit filled technology. It is my helmet of salvation. To finish my attire, is my sword of the Spirit (6:17). My sword is made from God’s word and strengthened by the Spirit of Father and Son Jesus. The sword completes my three holy accessories. In truth, they are more than accessories. They are essential to my daily survival.
The good news in all the above comes to us as revelation. Paul reveals them as gifts.
Paul announces that through our baptism in Christ, we immerge from the water dressed by the Holy, rather than with an apparel I provide on my own. In truth, it is beyond my ability to dress myself. I am only to enjoy and be filled with gratitude for my insider wardrobe given to me free of charge. It is a gift since, all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Galatians 3:27).
How about it, have you noticed how you are dressed?
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection on As An In Sider, What Should I Wear?
God Reflection 
Excellent, dear Gary! Thank you for your daily decision to be a servant of our Father.
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