Isn't It Time You Got Dressed?

After having several conversations with people this week, I realized how important it is to get dressed. No, there have not been any people I know sighted without clothes. In fact, they are wearing clothes, but not the right type of clothing for the jobs they are doing.

Think about clothing. Think about uniforms. Think about sports.

Clothing serves multiple purposes, does it not? It protects us from the harsh elements. It protects us from wandering eyes. It sets us apart from other mammals.

Uniforms identify teams. Uniforms give us a sense of belonging to a specific group. Uniforms set us apart. Uniforms are a way of showing our team spirit. When we are in uniform, we know it's time to warm up, be ready, and psych ourselves up for the play. When we are in uniform, our attitudes transform, we toughen up, and we know it's GAME ON!

Now think about sports. Our uniforms and clothing do more than just prepare us for the game. They also protect us from the dangers that lie ahead as we engage in our specific roles of play. The clothing we wear protects vulnerable body parts that would otherwise be left exposed to bone crushing injuries. Without properly dressed and protected players, a win would be hard to come by.

The risk from injury is too great to be play unprotected. Yet we wander around everyday unprotected!

With that said, think about your spiritual life. How many of us are battling the opposition each day, yet we fail to suit up properly? The Bible tell us how to dress for protection, so why don't we spend more time actually suiting up? Without putting on the full armor of God, the opposition can take us out one by one. And pretty soon, our teams become paralyzed. Our players are being crushed. Their gifts go unused. They hurt. And sometimes they leave their positions. The opposition keeps damaging our people, because they are not properly suited up for protection, yet it is completely preventable!

The damage done in the Kingdom and it's people doesn't have to be as intense as it is with the proper clothing, uniforms, and equipment. It's time to get dressed and it's time to stop the destruction. Everyday we must suit up and stand firm! Getting dressed is not just for football players! Getting dressed is not just an option we have every morning when we decide if jeans or khakis are the pant of the day.

Suit up in the armor of God. Get your team spirit every morning. Identify who's side you fight for and stand firm with confidence. We can't afford to continually be injured by the enemy!

Ephesians 6:10-18 (New International Version)
¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.