“Adorning the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.”

Did you give any deep thought to what clothes you put on this morning? If you’re like me, the quick answer is “no”. Although I am growing up in this area, my dear wife still rightly gives more consideration to my attire than I do. I think, at least, that I know what she would pick for me in a given situation and then dress accordingly. What about you? Perhaps your job requires a certain dress code or you dressed for a presentation at school? Speaking for most men, this isn’t a topic that really is given too much consideration.

However, there is an aspect of dressing that really should occupy our minds with seriousness and deep consideration. Did you put on Christ this morning (Romans 13:14)? I know that if you are a born-again believer, Christ is already fully in you and is the preeminent aspect of who you are. We are saved, purified, holy and complete in Him simply due to his declaration to this end. And yet, according to the Romans passage mentioned above, we are to be actively clothing ourselves with Christ. Our life is to reflect him in how we think and interact with the people and in the places where he has called us. In the book of Titus, Paul instructs Titus to tell bondservants to behave in such a way toward their masters so as to “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.” (2.10). In the same section of Titus, all types of believers are admonished to similar lifestyles that bring glory to God. In verse 5, we are called to live “that the word of God will not be dishonored.” In verse 8, we are called to live in such a way that those opposed to us and the gospel “…will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”

So what does this dressing in such a way to adorn the doctrine of God look like? In Titus, the context of these verses lets us see that bringing glory to God is bound up in fostering and pursuing Christ-like character. Be encouraged to read through Titus 2 and see how grace not only amazingly saves us, but instructs in living for God’s glory (2.11-14). As those who have been purified by Christ, we should be zealous for good deeds and the glory of Christ. Dressing in a manner that adorns the gospel is simply found in pursuing Christ and cultivating our lives in such a way that the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) is growing in our lives. As we abide in Christ, this fruit will naturally show up (Jn. 15.1-11). And we should be intentional in showing this fruit to the people around us.

So, did you “dress” this morning in such a way to “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect”? May we do so today and always as we live in Christ and strive to live out Christ in the places he has called us.

Soli Deo Gloria