“I can’t wait to get out of my Sunday best,” I heard myself say after our Easter services this past week. Which immediately made me laugh out loud. First, because my definition of “Sunday best” wouldn’t quite fit the standard of what most people would consider such. Second, who says “Sunday best” any more?
After cracking myself up (I know, it’s really not THAT funny) it hit me. All I meant is that I wanted to get out of my church clothes and put on my most comfy sweats. But the correlation between clothes and life was too obvious to miss.
On a normal (not holiday) weekend, the clothes I wear to church are the same clothes I would wear on any other day of the week. Mostly because they’re the clothes I feel the most authentic “me” in. Similarly, my heart should look the same on Sundays as it does the rest of the week. I shouldn’t change my attitude into my “Sunday best” just because I’m going to church. The mindset that I “wear” on Sundays should look exactly the same as the way I think, love, and act the rest of the week. Otherwise, I’m just wearing a cheap, dressed up version of me that’s not reflective of who I really am when no one’s watching.
Of course, I’m not really talking about attire here. I have many friends who dress beautifully on Sundays, because that’s who they authentically are ALL THE TIME! I’m talking about the garb of our hearts and souls. Our minds and characters. Those deepest parts of us that determine who we really are and how we interact. Those corners reserved for the luxurious fabric of love and truth and grace that fit us so well.
Do people recognize us by the “outfit” we wear ALL the time? That garment of praise (a thankful attitude), of righteousness (humble integrity), of peace and love and kindness and self-control and forgiveness and mercy? Do these things form the beautiful, floral pattern of our everyday soul’s clothing? Do I “look” the same on a Thursday afternoon as I do on a Sunday morning?
It’s easy to “dress up” for church. The expected smile. The spiritual lingo. The attitude that “matches” the day.
But let’s keep it real. Let’s be honest when we’re having a tough time or a rough day or a spiritual struggle or a crappy attitude. Let’s do that EVERY day. This transformation process of becoming more like Jesus is a lifelong endeavor. So we better be wearing comfortable, authentic “clothes” for the journey. Being transparent about who we really are with the goal of who we want to become as followers of Jesus.
May it be harder and harder to tell my Sunday best from my Tuesday worst…
Isaiah 61:3, 10 – …he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory…I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels.
Galatians 3:27 – And all who have been united with Christ… have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Ephesians 4:23-24 – …to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
2 Corinthians 3:18 – So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord–who is the Spirit–makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
