Galatians 3:26-29 (NRSV)
Read Galatians 3:26-29 on biblegateway.com
Verse 26for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. Verse 27As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Verse 28There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Verse 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.
Devotion
In ancient times the rite of baptism often involved baptismal candidates putting on a new, white robe as they emerged from the water. That robe was as spotless as the righteousness of Christ it symbolized. Paul reminded the Galatians of this experience, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
In this case, clothes really do make the man, woman, or child. The clothes of Christ trump all other fashionable distinctions: Asian, European, African; dependent or independent; male or female; slender or rotund; wealthy or destitute: All are one in Christ.
Every culture determines, in its own fashion, who is “in” and “out”, “up” and “down.” North American churches are still learning to treasure multi-cultural diversity just as the Galatian church was doing 2000 years ago. The secret? Develop your fashion sense! Check out the clothes first -- the clothes of Christ, of course.
Prayer
Wondrous God, give me the grace to see my brothers and sisters as you do, resplendent in the gleaming clothes of Christ. Keep me from superficial judgments that may discredit your love in the eyes of the world. Amen.