Colossians 3:9-11 MSG ‘… Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete…From now on everyone is defined by Christ…’
When I was a teenager, just out of college/TAFE, my first real job was in the city (Sydney), and because I was a ‘country bumpkin’ who traveled a 2hr express train each day to work and who did not really see much fashion (I was from the lower Blue Mountains, further on than the west of Sydney) I was in awe of all the shops! In my lunch hour, I just loved to walk through the stores and check out the latest fashions and of course, I loved the ‘labels’! Rodney Clarke, Country Road, and many more!
What was a little frustrating, was when I would come home with a label purchase that I had saved up some time for – my mum being at home would whip up an exact replica in days of the same item to then give my sister to wear the next time she visited… (she was even more a country bumpkin than me – from the country area of Griffith NSW at that time).
Reading the above scripture has now made me think back to that time in my life and ask myself why those brands were so desirous to wear?
Fashion at any age I think is a status issue, you are either up with the ‘in crowd’ or not! My mum sewed most things we wore, and she was excellent at it. The only thing was when we were old enough to sew ourselves, we were then expected to do the same. I was eleven when I made my first full dress with collar, invisible side seam pockets, and a few more extras. I loved wearing that dress and felt proud to wear it. If my sister and I were ever going out with friends to an event it was always straight to a material store to see what we could sew up cheap and quick!
The older I got, I realised very fast that my homemade clothes did not match up with my friends’ store-bought items and it was probably because of that, that later on I pursued seeking out the name brands to wear. Maybe even trying to disguise myself behind the clothes, so that I was not different but ‘the same’ in a way?
In the scripture above, Paul is trying to help us see that when we are in Christ, (a child of God) we are putting on Him and His ways so we should only desire to be who He created us to be – uniquely made by Him for His plan and purpose…
Isaiah 64:8 MSG ‘Still, God, you are our Father. We’re the clay and you’re our potter: All of us are what you made us.’
Ps 139:14 AMP ‘I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.’
I have come to realise over the years that all the life circumstances I have been through, in a way make up who I am – who God wants me to be. Like the verse above says, he is the potter, and every finger imprint He has done in making me as unique as I am, to be what is needed in ministering to those around me now… how amazing is He to do all that 😊
My clothing choices have probably come full circle I would say as I still try to sew a little but also try to be economic in what I purchase as well. It’s all about balance (and budgets). God now supplies all that I need, and I don’t have to worry as He is still working in and thru me – bring it on Lord in 2023!