New Clothes.

'I delight  greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bride groom adorns his head like a priest and as a bride adores herself with jewels.'

Isaiah 61:10

Buying new clothes for Easter is a tradition that has faded rather but it is an old one.  I imagine in the days when new clothes were more of  a treat and only brought once or twice a year the symbolism of new clothes for Easter was  more significant. Nowadays, when we can spend any Saturday morning buying cheap clothing at a mall or shopping centre, the sense of celebration is lost on us.

New clothes represent the new life that Christ has won for us, we  discard the shabby clothes of our old life and dress in the fresh, bright, best clothes of celebration.

'But the father said to his servants,'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put  a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.'

Luke 15:22

Last week I took the boys shopping. The climate in Cebu means that we wear the same clothes all the time, the children also do not wear school uniform and  their clothes look exhausted before too long. It really was time to buy something new. Neither the boys or I are great shoppers but the mall was quiet first thing and it is air conditioned, we stopped for a coffee for me and an iced chocolate for them and it was fun! A mini celebration and a reminder of how every day events can become festive occasions that demonstrate newness and just how full our transformed lives are.

 'Therefore........cloth yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience'

Colossians 3:12-14.