In this new modern, technological, fast-paced world we love our moments when we can just relax and put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. We Americans are some of the most spoiled and money induced people on the planet but I must admit we love our t-shirts. We don't just love them for their comfort and convenience but they also say a lot about who we are. Or do they?
I guess I don't get out much these days to shop for myself so I never really notice the new trends or what is out in the stores. I was at the beach a couple of weeks ago and my children and I stopped in a popular souvenir shop to have some air-brushed t-shirts made for my boys. I couldn't believe all of the shirts hanging from the walls with filth plastered all over the front of them. I couldn't even bring myself to look at the back of them. Maybe I was in part shocked because I thought that the store was suppose to be family oriented. Is this what things have become now? But that's another blog...
As I was pondering the trash printed on these shirts and our acceptance of them, God took me back to a time of a particular shirt I use to wear. Then He reminded me that I bought that shirt in that exact same store chain while at the beach with my friends years ago. I remember exactly what that shirt said and it makes me embarrassed now to think that I even wore it... much less thought it was funny and cool. God revealed to me that my attitude reflected that shirt.
For some reason I have recently noticed a lot of t-shirts worn by individuals, including myself, with God and His Word plastered all over them. I began really reading all of them to see what they said. Rather than God speaking to me in what I was reading, He asked me, "Do these shirts reflect the ones wearing them, including you?" Now I can't speak on behalf of the hearts and desires for those other adults but I do know whether or not I see fruit from them. Some of them, I don't know well enough to make an educated guess. Others....well, no. I don't ever see any fruit or any mention of God from their lips or actions. A few....yes.
So that leaves me. When others see my t-shirt do they think it fits with my lifestyle? Do I think it fits with my lifestyle? Does God think so? Sometimes we Christians don't understand why the rest of the world sees us as phony yet just like them. Do we really stand out in a crowd because of our godly hearts or because we "act" like Christ followers in front of an audience who sees right through us. Are we only fooling ourselves? When we express our beliefs on something as simple as a t-shirt and it involves trusting and putting our faith in the Creator of the universe and proclaiming His identity, we better mean it. Otherwise it's blasphemy.
This took me to a part of scripture that I have heard many times, again last night in fact, and one that I fear the most...
Matthew 7: 21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Are we real in who we proclaim to be in Christ? Or will we stand one day and hear those words being said to us? I pray one way God uses me as a vessel to advance His kingdom is in the clothes that I wear. I pray that it's His choosing that I wear those words rather than my choosing to wear those words as part of fitting in with the crowd.
I thank you, Lord, for Your truth and grace. I would be no where without it.
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