Clothed with Christ

One of my husband’s college friends posted on Facebook: “Does anyone in the D.C. area have a suit I can borrow, I am going to a meeting with President Obama.” We assumed he found one, even one that fit, because the next Facebook post was a picture with him and the President. We are a casual society; whether going to the opera in jeans or showing up to class in sweatpants, we don’t think our clothes represent our respect for a person or institution. But does the casual nature of our society influence our approach toward God?

In Exodus 19, the Israelites have been brought out of slavery and have come to Mount Sinai to worship and meet with their Deliverer. Verses 10-13 give instructions for this meeting: Moses is to consecrate the people, then they are to wash their garments and wait three days. Peter Enns explains consecration throughout Exodus is the “act of setting apart for special service to God. This fits well with the notion of Israel’s being a ‘holy nation’ and ‘kingdom of priests’ (19:6): They are set apart for God’s service.” They are about to meet the King of angel armies, something no other nation has ever done, and it’s clear preparation is involved. It is not a casual meeting, but a meeting with gravitas.  They are to prepare themselves and wait until the King is ready to receive them.

So how are we to meet God? The Israelite’s meeting with God was announced with thunder, lightning, and the blast of a trumpet—and it caused the people to tremble. Is it a matter of fear and trembling for us today? And do our outfits matter?

In Scripture, 2 Corinthians tells us we do not need to be afraid as we approach God. We can enter into God’s presence with thanksgiving and confidence, not casually and without reverence, but with joy and boldness, because we are without sin before God thanks to the Cross and the empty tomb. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 states, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

As we spend these 40 days fasting and seeking God’s face, remember we have been consecrated and made holy through the blood and resurrection of Christ, we are set apart for God’s service. As Galatians 3:27 says, we are clothed with Christ. So our clothing does matter, it just has been given to us by Christ!

So if we have been consecrated, set apart for God’s service, what does our borrowed suit look like? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” May our prayer be that it fits! Or at least that we grow into it.

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[1] Peter Enns, NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000).