What does it mean to be ‘clothed in righteousness’?

            In Bible study on Wednesday, we searched Matthew 22:1-14, Ephesians 4:24, Galatians 3:27, Isaiah 25:1-9, 1 Corinthians 15:54 and Revelations 19:8 for answers to this question. (Later at home, I followed a note in my study Bible to Psalm 132:16, Isaiah 61:10, and Zechariah 3:3-5). 

            Debra shared an interesting thought with the group.  ‘There is something noticeably different about a person who has faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior’, she said. 

            Interesting.

            The next day at the hair salon, I noticed something different about my stylist.  Her clothes hung loosely about her.  She had lost weight, 25 pounds to be exact, through diet and exercise.  She looked, well, different.  She looked great!

            Something was different about our conversation too, I noticed, as she applied goo to the gray roots of my hair (no, the color is not natural anymore – have you noticed the difference?).  We talked about our shared faith in Jesus.  Well, what I mean is that we talked about our kids and how to bring them up in the faith, and we talked about the problems of the world and the need for our faith.  Again and again she led the topics of our discussion to an affirmation of our shared faith in Jesus, The Savior of the world.

            She has changed!  Her faith has grown, really grown!  There is something very noticeably different about her.  Something so very beautiful on the inside, that shines through in a new way.

            Now, my hair stylist has always been a genuinely kind, gentle and caring person – by human standards.  Yet now, these qualities are coming from a different source – not from within her but from the One who dwells within her.  Her kindness is richer now, her gentleness deeper, and her compassion is truer, more alive.

            May we all receive the clothes of righteousness that Jesus Christ has provided for us by His death on The Cross – for our sins – and by His resurrection to eternal life!  Repentant, forgiven, saved and set apart – let us all put on these radiant garments and let Him dwell in us richly.  And may others see, and note the difference!

            Some time ago I started praying for my hair stylist.  She had shared some of her struggles with me, you see.  Did God lead me to pray for her?  Yes, of course!  For this very reason – that I might be a witness!

            What a privilege!  I have seen Him in her!  I have seen the way He sees her!  Praise God!!

            My stylist caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and remarked that it might be time for her to find some new clothes, now that she is thinner. 

            I think that she already has.