The New Look: Righteousness

While everyone is out searching for this season's latest trend or hottest item, I am on a different shopping mission: I'm searching for a different and new type of wardrobe. That of faithfulness, holiness, righteousness, purity, truth, love, joy, peace, patience, self-control, loving-kindness, gentleness, and long-suffering. When I step out, I want everyone to notice what and who I am wearing: Jesus. Is it hard? Yeah. Just think whenever you are trying to find that pair of jeans, or those pair of shoes you saw in that one magazine (well, maybe a similar pair because you can't afford designer shoes), or that coat that would match perfectly with those winter boots. It can take a long time to find just the right pair or exactly what you are looking for. You have to try things on...maybe even take some items back. Well, the same goes for transformation. It is a process. You won't get it right away, and you won't have it when you leave this world. Living here in Dallas, I've seen so many sides of the American dream. Those who desperately want to get out of the ghetto but can't, those who don't even have a ghetto to call home but a bench or a bridge, those who work hard to acheive that corporate status, and those who have money to burn and the need to be seen. People are appearance-obssessed it seems. And I almost fell into that trap myself. To have the coolest car, the prettiest house, the vacation spot, name-brand designer clothes, and making all the fashionable appearances seem to shape and mold the world we live in, even in the Christian community. It's sad no one can tell us apart from the world anymore. We are takers instead of givers. We want what we can't have and refuse to be satisfied with what we do. We can buy all the fancy clothes, pile on all the ridiculous makeup, make ourselves look like something we aren't, color our hair, get tattoos and piercings, mold and sculpt our bodies all to be noticed by others. Man, I thought we were to live in the world, not act like it. We are 'new creations' so why do we still act like Jesus died for nothing? I wish I would want to be noticed for an entirely different reason: to glorify God. Not just with my body, but with my time, my money, my life, my family;everything.  Let's not try to pretend anymore. We (I) need to stop being fake and become real and transparent because that is the only way I will be able to be transformed. I need to stop lying to myself and realize I have a long way to go but if I simply go to God humbly and with all sincerity, I KNOW He will change me and work in me to become all those things I desire to be. Not for my own benefit but to be obedient to my Heavenly Father. I don't want to judge others. I don't want to waste my time with their actions against me or what they do in spite of claiming to be a Christian. I want to focus on those who want and need a Savior. Those who are struggling, hurting, and lost. Lord help me be pure in heart, sober in mind to refuse all these worldly lusts and temptations in order to become a light in the midst of a dark and scary world. Let me be raw and genuine before You, carrying no deceit or shame. No, I won't be rockin' the Dior or the Dolce & Gabbana's but I will be rockin' something so much better: I'll be rockin' JC. Then I don't think I'll be able to look any better!


Read: Ephesians 4:17-24; Zecheriah 8;!6,17; Philippians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 5:17-19