Galatians 3:27 states; 'for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ'
Now, to me, that sounds kinda weird! to 'have put on Christ', it's not often you say, oooh, today i am going to wear Christ, how can you wear a person??
In responding lihe this I realise that I am probably responding how the world would - Being a christian doesn't make a whole lot of sense to many people.
But, the Bible says that those who have been baptised, 'have put on Christ', so as someone who has been baptised i'd better try to understand what this means as it applies to me!
The act of baptism is symbolising our uderstanding and faith that Jesus died for us because of all the things we have done wrong, and our recognition that if we want to be made right, we too need to lay down our selfish lives for God.
In baptism, as we rise out of the water, we remember that we have chosen to live a new life, and aim to become more like the only perfect man to have ever walked the Earth, Jesus. This is when we choose to 'put on Christ', we are grateful that God sees us now as He sees Jesus, and we are more conscious that the way we live represents Him.
As we wear Jesus, he covers us, he covers over the inner workings of our hearts, as well as the shape/state/health of our bodies. This level of relationship is so intomate that we even look like Jesus. When God sees us, He sees Jesus, when others in our lives see us, they see Jesus.
When people choose to put on Christ, they are more aware of different things. As we are aware when we get dressed that clothes are going to keep us warm/cool. This can work out in a many different ways, this may be an increased awareness of certain; people, needs, problems, solutions, words, behaviour, or places for example. God can give us a more acute awareness of what He sees in the world that He wishes us to have an influence in.
Through choosing a relationship with God, we are choosing to represent Him.
Like when we put on clothes, we are giving out an image of who we are. Eventhough I have been a christian for many years, I still need to be careful how i choose to represent Jesus, how am I going to respond to different situations? will I speak up so the vulnerable are heard? Can I spare a few minutes to visit someone who is sick/lonely/in need or even write them a card? How should I behave/respond to the one person (or maybe there are a few) who seem to make my life difficult?
What should I wear today?
