ESOCS Devotional 1 November 2025 – Let’s Get Dressed For Church
MEMORY VERSE: “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:14
TEXT: COLOSSIANS 3:14-END
But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
18 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
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The emperor in “The Emperor’s New Clothes” by Hans Christian Anderson went about his royal procession without any clothes on. As Christians, we must not follow the emperor in this story, we must have our clothes, and we must put on the new clothes. That’s what the apostle Paul said in Colossians 3 and verse 12: “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.” Paul is not talking about physical articles of garments, but spiritual qualities befitting the new life in Christ
In Colossians 3:12-17, Paul talks about: (1) Grace: Before we look at what we are to put on, Paul reminds us of why we are to put it on – that we are richly favoured and given abundant grace by God. (2) Garments: Paul shows us the 8 qualities that we should have. Just as we are to put away the grave clothes of sin, we are now to put on grace clothes of holiness and love. So, put on compassionate hearts: benevolence or goodness towards others. You are predisposed towards others’ needs and you want to help them in their practical struggles. Put on humility: lowliness of mind – it means you are not thinking much about yourself, you’re not full of yourself. You esteem others more important than yourselves. Have meekness: strength under control, not easily provoked, not irritable, gentle. Patience: suffer long, instead of being quick-fused, you bear with others, you suffer long. (3) Goal: The goal is that God’s people will be united in peace and thankfulness unto Him. (4) Gospel: The word of Christ must saturate the people of God in order for us to arrive at the goal.
So, as you can see, all of the virtues we are exhorted to put on – compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience – along with bearing with one another and forgiveness – are all bound up – are all united in this idea of “love”. If we love others – if we truly have love for other people – a love given to us by God, and understood properly through the lens of His love for us – we will have all of these virtues. We will have compassion, we will have kindness, and we will have humility, and so forth. For all of these flow from love – love of God, and love of others ahead of ourselves. Love unites all of these virtues.
CHALLENGES
- How much have you tried putting on the new clothes of Christ – holiness and righteousness? You should put them on permanently?
PRAYER POINT
- Lord, strengthen us and help us to draw close to Christ crucified and resurrected, our Saviour, in Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
FURTHER READING: Job 3:1-26; 4:1-21; Colossians 4:1-End
ESOCS Devotional 1 November 2025
