"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10.
Have you ever bought something to wear without trying it on and realized that it didn't fit right. It may be that you weren't the size you thought you were? But you wanted that garment so badly you decided to keep it and make yourself fit for the garment. That required much discipline in your eating habits, you would have to exercise vigorously, and you were determined to do whatever it took to be able to wear that beautiful garment. God our Father has a beautiful garment waiting to put on us, but we have to be fit in order to wear it. He has given us His robe of salvation and even His garment of praise, but He is still working on us so we will be able to wear His Rob of Righteousness. "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Ephesians 4:24. "Put on..", that indicates that there is something we must do. The Bible tells us that once we are saved, have repented of our sins, and received Jesus in our hearts by faith, we are "new creatures in Christ Jesus". Paul is saying here, "Act like it." Manifest in your daily life that you have a new relationship with the Father; that you have been restored back to Him.
Well, how do we do that? Exercise, work out your salvation with "fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12-13): respecting and honoring God our Father, being obedient to His will at all times. Just as a fitness instructor gives the exercises that will help us get in good condition and be able to fit the garment, so Paul has given in Colossians 3:1-17. In this chapter, he names the things we must take off and the things we must put on. We must first keep our mind on the things of the Kingdom of God; develop good habits, reading and studying the Word of God. Get rid of and destroy those things in our lives that will keep us from being fit for God's Robe of Righteousness. Remember the old man is dead, and we must not allow him and his old ways to be resurrected in our lives. It will take an everyday, vigorous work out, but we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13). Determine that you will be fit for the garment. "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." Revelation 19:8.
