put on...

I'm convinced now more than ever that Starbucks in California builds character. At the Starbucks I work at, the line frequently trails out the door 80 percent of the day. This is a recipe for impatience, anger, and frustration. And it's not just customers; baristas feel the same way. It's almost as if we could snap at any moment.

In my community group, we've been discussing the book of Colossians. There was one week when we were talking about Colossians 3. Let me share verses 1 to 17 with you:

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Did you notice especially the last section where it talks about putting on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and love? Those are all things that we intrinsically do not possess. I in myself, am not a compassionate man. But through Jesus, we are given the choice to wear these wonderful qualities. It's simply glorious!

However, often it isn't until we are standing in a 15 minute line at Starbucks that we realize just how little patience we have. It becomes very apparent, no matter how much we try to mask our impatience. But that is the best time to pray a quick prayer, "God, take off the old impatient self and help me put on patience." You would be surprised the work God could do in your life waiting in line at Starbucks. It builds some serious character.