"Campaign Clothes" by Connie McNeil

Colossians 3:12-17

12-14 “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” [Message]

This passage gives us a pretty good picture of what it means to be nurturing motivations in our lives as followers of Jesus. Paul begins by using the image of putting on clothes that God chooses for us. You may go through this every day at your house, choosing an outfit for a child (or spouse). You may wish adult clothes came with little, hidden animals that you could match and know that you had on a good-looking outfit.

Of course, what God is choosing for us to put on is actually what God chooses for us to put in. In to our being. In to our behavior. In to our depiction of what it means to be a Christ-follower. But there is one garment that whatever else you put on, or not I suppose, we are to put on this one thing. Our all-purpose wear it regardless of garment. Love. Paul tells us to never be without it. Sort of like what your mother may have told you about underwear. Don’t go out without it.

Paul then changes metaphors. Then the song we sing will be a peace song. We will not be soloists but rather sing in an ensemble or choir. This peace song helps us be thankful. Then Paul depicts an image of a child, or maybe an unrestrained pet that has the full run of our house. What is this thing that we shouldn’t even attempt to contain? It’s Jesus’ message to us.

We are to let that message fill our lives-our words, our actions, our thoughts, our song! Our inner lives will then express the thankfulness and gratitude we feel for and toward God. This truly reflects the life of one who follows Jesus. How might this look at this present time? How about launching a campaign of love? After all, it is campaign season.

What could that look like? How about signs and messages to our schools that support our educators, students, the board, and parents? Are there needs at nursing homes and other residential homes that we could help meet? Is there something you could do to help parents and children and learning? I suspect that leaders in our community, elected and appointed, would appreciate a note of encouragement. Are you aware that there is a significant food shortage, especially now for unemployed and underemployed people? Could we promote a city-wide drive-by, drop-off of donated food or personal care items for households and facilities where professionals care for our loved ones? Some have done some of these things already, and that’s great. What’s an idea you have in order to join the campaign? With the brokenness and pain around us, I don’t think our campaign of love is anywhere near being over.