Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
God is the Father of compassion and we are urged to clothe ourselves with compassion. The word translated "clothe yourselves" is the Greek word enduo (ἐνδύω) which means "array, clothe with, endue, put on." It comes from two words, en and duno which give the word a sense of sinking into a garment. I have written about it before, but I love that image of sinking into a favorite cozy, comforting garment. Sinking into God's compassionate character. Clothing myself with his glory and with his love. And as I do this, becoming like him.
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Colossians 3:10 (NLT)
Wow, what an amazing, precious calling and privilege! To be become like God, clothed with him and his compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. But wasn't that God's plan and purpose from the beginning?
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27
This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in His own likeness. Genesis 5:1
For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29
Lord, work in me to will and to work according to your good purpose, your passionate purpose which you have had since the beginning of time. Work in me what is pleasing to you. This is beyond me, Lord. I cannot do it without your grace and help. Give me what I need, work in me. Help me choose each day to be clothed with your compassion for people, your kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
"I choose to look at people through God, using God as my glasses, colored with His love for them." -- Frank C. Laubach, Letters by a Modern Mystic
Image in the Public Domain
