How are we Clothed?
Posted on September 6, 2018 by America's Keswick in Victory Call
In Ecuador, there are many Indian tribes. Just by looking at them, you can tell which tribe they belong to. That is because each tribe has a different type of hat and clothing that they wear. And each group has a distinctive craft. One of these tribes, the Otavalans, live in the northern part of Ecuador. The women wear woolen wrap-around skirts with the bottoms embroidered and an embroidered belt. Their blouses are also beautifully embroidered. They wear a scarf on their heads. Both men and women have one braid down the back of their heads. The men wear white shirts and pants, a poncho, and a hat. Their craft and livelihood are weaving, making ponchos, tapestries, blankets, sweaters, and other clothing. Another town is known for its woodworking and another for dough dolls and Christmas ornaments.
What do people see when they see you? As Christians, we also should be known by how we look and by what we do. When people look at us, do they see Christ? Jesus said that the world would know us by our love. We should love others as He loves others (John 15). Do we love others as we should? Many times, that is almost impossible to do. But, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to do it.
In Ephesians 4, we are told to lay aside our old self, our former way of life, how we used to look. We are to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, let God change us. Then, we are to put on the new self, we are to look like God. What does that look like? We are to speak the truth all the time. We will not sin when we become angry. We work and do not steal. We only allow wholesome words to come out of our mouth (Wow, that is a hard one.) Our words should lift others, not tear them down. We are to be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving each other. When we are dressed in that clothing, we will definitely stand out in the world.
This reminds me of the following song by Peter Scholtes:
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restoredAnd they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they will know we are Christians by our love.We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s prideAnd they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they will know we are Christians by our love.We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our landAnd they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yes, they will know we are Christians by our love.
Written by Denise Zambrano: Denise loves to teach the Bible and sing. She teaches a women’s Bible study and a high school Sunday School class. Along with her daughter, Linda, she is an advocate at A Baby’s Breath (a crisis pregnancy center). She loves being a grandmother to Tim, Becky, Alexander, and William (who is with Jesus). She was a missionary with Radio Station HCJB in Quito, Ecuador for 35 years.
The Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 32-34 | You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here
Daily Quote: “We love others, we love everybody, we love our enemies, because He first loved us… And that is how the love of God melts down the unlovely heart in man, and begets in him the new creature, who is patient and humble and gentle and unselfish.” – Henry Drummond
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Proverbs 26:12