How do people see you?

Maybe you’ve heard someone say, “Don’t judge me by what I wear!”

On the one hand, it’s good advice. You may be surprised by the skills and personality of the person despite how they look. On the other hand, you need to be aware that how you present yourself to others will affect how they see you. Don’t be surprised or offended if you dress a certain way and people assume you are like the way you dress. It was your choice to present yourself like that.

The truth is we all present ourselves to others, whether we want to or not. What we wear, how we comb our hair (or not), our mannerisms, and how we act towards people all affect how people see us. Since we are also ambassadors of Christ, it affects how they see Jesus.

In Colossians, God says to clothe ourselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. These traits should be so a part of who we are that these characteristics are what people think of when they think of us. These traits should be as apparent as our clothes.

How does God see you?

Interestingly, this is how we are presented to God, too. Not that we present ourselves to God with how great we are at compassion or patience, but that God has clothed us in the righteousness of Christ. He is perfectly compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. And, so, we are to God as well.

God is telling us to act like the righteous people we have been made. In this we will love others and when we, as Christians, do this it also means that people start to see Jesus by these traits and glorify His name.

What are some ways you can clothe yourself in these traits?

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for making me holy and righteous. This frees me to not worry about how I appear to You and just love my neighbor. Help me to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient just as Jesus is.

Amen.