What to Wear In 2024

New Years Message 

Grace World 12-31-2023

What kind of person do you want to be in 2024? 

What to wear in 2024!!!

Colossians 3:¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Today, we have a list of 7 articles of clothing (so to speak), not to make a resolution to do, but a lifestyle to maintain… 

Seven attitudes you can strive to live by in the new year, as people of God.

12: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

1. Compassion

Defined – a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

2. Kindness

Defined – The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.

“Small things done with great love can change the world”

The true measure of an individual is how he treats a person who can do him absolutely no good. ~ Ann Landers

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~ Mark Twain

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.
~ William Arthur Ward

Look for an opportunity to “INTENTIONALLY” do a random act of kindness.

3. Humility

Webster’s 1828

1. In ethics, freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one’s own worth. In theology, humility consists in lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one’s own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement, penitence for sin, and submission to the divine will.

Before honor is humility Proverbs 15:33.

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind. Acts 20:19.

Humility means that you recognize your own weaknesses. You don’t think about how great you are… Certainly, in light of who God is and who we serve.

“Humility is something we should constantly pray for, yet never thank God that we have.” ~ M.R. De Haan

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. 

4. Gentleness

Webster’s 1828

1. Softness of manners; mildness of temper; sweetness of disposition; meekness.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness goodness, faith. Galatians 5:22.

2. Tenderness; mild treatment..

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

5. Patience.

Defined – Webster’s 1828

1. The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness. 

2. A calm temper which bears evils without murmuring or discontent.

3. The act or quality of waiting long for justice or expected good without discontent.

Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Matthew 18:26.

4. Perseverance; consistency in labor or exertion.

6. Forgiveness

Verse 13: Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you have with each other.

A grievance is a legitimate reason to be upset with someone. 

What does it mean to forgive? 

The last part of verse 13 says, 13 B…Forgive, as the Lord forgave you.

Matthew 18:²¹ Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

²³ “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 

²⁶ So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 

²⁸ But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 

³⁰ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹ When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. ³² Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 

³³ And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵ So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

I want to forgive, as Christ forgave me.

7. Love

14: And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

The Greek word is “agape,” one-way love. It is a God kind of love. It is a one-way love!!  

Where are you going to get the strength to put on and wear these seven articles of clothing? 

Here’s the answer: You can’t… but Christ in you can!!!

Christ will change you. 

His forgiveness will turn you into a forgiver. His one-way love (agape love) for you will turn you into someone who shows one-way love to others.

Compassion –Kindness –Humility –Gentleness –Patience –Love