Clothed To Press On!

“Shall we ask Pete to play golf with us today?” one golfer asked another golfing buddy. “No,” was the reply, “he always golfs in the seventies.” “He’
s that good?” “No, he doesn’t like to play golf when it is hotter or colder than the seventies.”

Now there is a “fair weather” golfer. Since the weather is not something we have control over, we adjust our activities or dress accordingly. However, there are perhaps some things we may just decide not to do when the weather is not to our liking.

Today was one of those days when I was tempted to not walk. I could hear the rain when I got up this morning and it just wasn’t letting up. Saturdays are one of my two high mileage days of the week and I didn’t want to break from my routine. Therefore, I hooded up and headed out in spite of the weather. As I walked in the continuing rain I must admit I was tempted to cut my walk short. Nevertheless, I stuck it out and got in a good twelve mile walk.

Though I may not be a “fair weather” walker, more importantly I must consider whether or not I am a “fair weather” Christian. We cannot always control the CLIMATE in which we find our lives, yet must still be prepared to press on anyway.

Paul was definitely not a “fair weather” Christian. If he had waited for the CLIMATE around him to be ideal for his ministry, how much would he have accomplished for the Lord? Paul pressed on in the face of the coldness of desertion ( 2 Timothy 1:15; 4:10 & 16) and exposure to the elements ( 2 Corinthians 11:27) and also through the heat of persecution. ( 2 Corinthians 11:24-25) He had a remarkable ability to press on faithfully no matter what the CLIMATE of the situation.

Just as we cannot control the weather and must therefore dress accordingly so that we can get done what needs to be done -- so it is in our spiritual walk as Christians. Regardless of the CLIMATE in which we find ourselves we must seek to be dressed in a manner that enables us to press on anyway.

Paul urged the Colossian brethren…
“(12) PUT ON THEN, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, MEEKNESS, and PATIENCE, (13) bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, FORGIVING each other; AS THE LORD HAS FORGIVEN YOU, so you also must forgive. (14) AND ABOVE ALL THESE PUT ON LOVE, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” ( Colossians 3:12-14 ESV)

The Greek translated “put on” is from “enduo” which signifies to enter into or get into as one would get into clothes. The NIV translates Paul’s urging here as to “clothe yourselves” with the qualities he went on to list. With our lives clothed in such a manner we may possess a disposition that serves to keep us cool when things heat up and warm when feeling the coldness of the world around us. May we be so clothed that we will be prepared to press on faithfully in service to God regardless of the CLIMATE in which we might find ourselves.

Have a great day PREPARED TO KEEP ON KEEPING ON IN CHRIST!
Carl

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