FAMOUSyouthGROUP*

Galatians 3:26-28 NLT
 
For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
 
I like to shop for clothes, in a abnormal way. 
 
Let me tell you what I mean…
 
If you’ve ever been out shopping with me at the mall, I get kinda weird when I follow my friends to women’s clothing stores.  Sadly, if you’ve been with me, you can attest to this.  It’s not that I get uncomfortable when it comes to shopping around women’s clothes.  On the contrary, I become enamored with them.  I start looking at styles and fashions, rate clothing, and even, on occasion, make up outfit combinations of my own (not to wear, of course, because that would be silly).  It drives my friends and my youth up the wall!
 
*Ahem*
 
Anyway, that’s what I do and I oddly enjoy it.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I do men’s styles, too.  But what I like about this little game of dress-up is the fact that, depending on the outfit and the person it is for, you can create a totally different person.  Clothes can do that, did you know?  One shirt can make you look old, fat and saggy, while another can make you young, vibrant, and skinny.  Other clothes can make you look metro and classy, while even others can depict you as casual, calm, and carefree.  And, did you also know that there are some styles and sizes of clothing that were not made for you and other style that were?
 
You clothes can, literally, define who you are, at least on the outside.  But, what about the inside?
 
Galatians tell us that we have put on Christ, like we put on clothes.  Now these clothes are a lot more magical than some ordinary outfit at Forever XXI.  They are so awesome that they can change your lineage, your anointing, and even your birthright!  When you put on Christ, it totally changes you. 
 
But, sometimes, we get distracted by other outfits we see.  We’ll look through the window of other stores and think those outfits are made for us.  “I think I’ll try distractions on, they look nice.  Or maybe a pair of doubt and regret?  How ‘bout picking up some busyness while I’m here.  And, hey, looks like sin is on sale - maybe this is a good time to try that out, too.”  But, as we try them on, it’s clear that those clothes were not made for us.  They make us slow, ugly, and dirty.  And, we go through this while, all this time, we have the best outfit collecting dust on the shelf - the relationship we have with Christ. 


You know another time we put on good clothes - a date.  We dress to impress, it seems, when we go on dates.  But, can I venture to say, that on a VERY good date, we’re not dressing to impress per se, but we dress to BE IMPRESSED.  If that date is good - if he’s handsome and a gentleman, or if shes stunning and beautiful - we’re dressed to be blessed.  That is what putting on Christ is - BEING DRESSED TO BE BLESSED.

As we continue this fast, let’s start putting on God again while taking off the things that don’t look good on us.  And, let’s get ready to be blessed by God while he changes everything we are as he clothes us in His glory.

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6 days into the fast - more than 1/8th done.  I’m very proud of all you guys!!  Keep it up and be expectant of God’s favor and blessings in the next few weeks!