What's your title?

When Chris was a junior in college, he was living in the athletic dorm of the University of Memphis. One day, a fellow athlete saw him walking through the dorm and invited him to sit down in one of the common areas in the lobby. What Chris didn’t realize was that his friend was asking him to sit down and be part of a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting. Chris remained there out of obligation. Before he knew what was happening, they began electing officers for the next year… and he was elected vice president! Chris walked in having never attended a meeting and walked out with the title of vice president… Go figure! With a new title, Chris realized he had a choice to make.Something about a title causes us to think about ourselves differently. We stand a little taller. We expect a little more from ourselves. We don’t want to let anyone down. A title also causes other people to identify with us differently. Chris decided that this new title meant he had to live fully for God. One foot in the world and one foot following the Lord would be hypocritical to anyone who was aware of his new title.[bctt tweet="We need to fully embrace the title we’ve received."]You may love or you may resent the titles you currently have. Perhaps you wish you had a “more important” title. The truth is that you actually have a very powerful title. Yes, if you’re a follower of Christ, you’re called God’s "chosen one.” And just like when Chris found himself with a title he wasn’t expecting, perhaps we need to fully embrace the title we’ve received.In Colossians 3:12-13, Paul instructs us:

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…

With our title as a chosen one, we’re also given a specific assignment. We’re called up to a higher standard. We’re called to become compassionate, kind, humble, meek, and patient. (Check out the next verse, too… because we are called to more!)When we read this list, we can be tempted to feel like we’ll never measure up. Let me encourage you to choose a different perspective. If you saw my last post, I discussed what we’re called to put off… and in some translations, it’s described even more emphatically: to put to death. Putting on is actually much easier. Additionally, putting on helps us keep off what has previously harmed us.We’ll never be the women God desires us to be simply by stopping the destructive patterns in our lives… and God knows that. So, He lovingly calls us to replace the destructive with what is restorative and life giving.So, what do you need to put on?Here are a few questions to help you apply God’s Word to your life:

•  Where do you need to be more compassionate?•  Where are you choosing pride over humility?•  Meekness is strength under control, or bridled strength. Where are you too strong?•  Who needs to see you live out patience today?

We get dressed every morning. May we daily choose to put on the characteristics that accurately represent God’s character. God’s chosen one. He doesn’t expect us to get it perfect, but He does desire for us to live out His heart toward others.[bctt tweet="We’ll never be who God desires us to be just by stopping the destructive patterns in our lives."]