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January 26, 2023
Dear Noblesville First Family,
Have you ever aspired to live to 100? What do you think you’d look like or act like if you made it to 100 years of life? Kindergartners like my Isabella imagined that possibility as they dressed up as centurions on the 100th day of school this week.
Isabella imagined gray hair, green eyeglasses and a broach (her actual Great-Grandmother’s) that professed her love for Jesus. All day she spoke in her “grandma” voice and even rocked her stuffed animals to sleep “like all grandmas do.”
Isabella’s transformation into a 100 year old woman reminded me of Paul’s letter to the Colossians where he instructs them to, “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (3:12).” I’ve always read this scripture with a bit of curiosity. I’ve wondered why Paul tells us to put on these characteristics like clothing. But watching Isabella this week helped me understand.
We choose what we wear and so too, we choose to put on the habits of followers of Jesus. It’s an intentional daily decision to choose compassion instead of apathy, kindness instead of anger, humility instead of arrogance, gentleness instead of harshness and patience instead of aggravation. Sometimes it’s a tight fit as we struggle to become more like Christ each day and leave behind the habits, thoughts and practices that don’t fit a follower of Jesus.
Yet, each day (and hopefully until our 100th year of life) God graces us with that choice. And so, I wonder, what will you choose to wear this week? Will you put on the patience, gentleness and humility of Christ? Will people see that you love Jesus because you’re wearing a broach that says so or because you live in a way that makes it plain to see that you are clothed in Christ?
Isabella prefers a broach but I pray that all of us may wear the wardrobe of witness that helps others see the love of Jesus.
May we be clothed in God’s love as we gather in worship, service and ministry this week. And join me as I continue the "What's Next?" sermon series at 8:30, 9:45 and 11:00 worship on Sunday.
Keep the Faith@First,
Pastor Nicole