An Overcoat of Love

People have more in common than we have differences.  And, that largely stems from the fact that we each have the same nature, as sinners, standing naked before God.

He said, I heard the sound of You [walking] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.  Genesis 3:10 AMPC

… Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother’s womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord!    Job 1:21 AMPC

We lie if we say we have no sin.

If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts].  1 John 1:8 AMPC

…He said to them, You are the ones who declare yourselves just and upright before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted and highly thought of among men is detestable and abhorrent (an abomination) in the sight of God. [I Sam. 16:7; Prov. 21:2.]                 Luke 16:15 AMPC

God in His goodness makes it His purpose to Clothe us so we no longer need to stand naked and ashamed.

Sheol (the place of the dead) is naked before God, and Abaddon (the place of destruction) has no covering [from His eyes]. He Covers the face of His throne and Spreads over it His Cloud.  Job 26:6, 9 AMPC

THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a Cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 AMPC

For,

…not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, naked and defenseless to the eyes of Him with Whom we have to do. For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].  Hebrews 4:13, 15-16 AMPC

God invites us to partner not in a dispensation of judgement but into a ministry of reconciliation

… is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every [enslaving] yoke? [Acts 8:23.] Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house–when you see the naked, that you Cover him, and that you hide not yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood? Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you [conducting you to peace and prosperity], and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. [Exod. 14:19, 20; Isa. 52:12.]  Isaiah 58:6-8 AMPC

Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]. [Prov. 10:12.]  1 Peter 4:8 AMPC

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].  1 Corinthians 15:58 AMPC

Then they also [in their turn] will answer, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?  Matthew 25:44 AMPC

Contribute then to each other’s clothing, out of your vast kingdom treasures, that you have stored up for yourselves, treasures including but not limited to: forgiveness, mercy, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.

In Luke 16, Jesus shares the parable of the unjust manager that was about to lose his job.  As a means for damage control, he set out to get in good with his master’s debtors by “cooking the books,” saying they owed less than they really did, so they would welcome him when he needed help.

So, he summoned his master’s debtors one by one, and he said to the first, “How much do you owe my master?” He said, “A hundred measures [about 900 gallons] of oil.”   And he said to him, “Take back your written acknowledgement of obligation, and sit down quickly and write fifty [about 450 gallons].”  Luke 16:5-6 AMPC

Jesus praised the unjust manager for his shrewdness and wisdom.  Jesus was not praising dishonesty here.  He was praising the managers discernment that he needed to make friends where he could, so that he would be welcomed by them if his own resources failed.

You guys, all of us, in our own strength and resources will fail.  We will need the grace and mercy of others at some point in our lives, that only through the empowering of Jesus could anyone show us.

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions), so that when it fails, they [those you have favored] may receive and welcome you into the everlasting habitations (dwellings).  Luke 16:9 AMPC

We should, as sons of light, make it our aim, once clothed, to Contribute to the spiritual needs of others.

For in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation, their abundance of joy and their depth of poverty [together] have overflowed in wealth of lavish generosity on their part. For, as I can bear witness, [they gave] according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and [they did it] voluntarily, begging us most insistently for the favor and the fellowship of contributing in this ministration for [the relief and support of] the saints [in Jerusalem]. Nor [was this gift of theirs merely the contribution] that we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His agents] by the will of God [entirely disregarding their personal interests, they gave as much as they possibly could, having put themselves at our disposal to be directed by the will of God]– For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied). So now finish doing it, that your [enthusiastic] readiness in desiring it may be equaled by your completion of it according to your ability and means. For if the [eager] readiness to give is there, then it is acceptable and welcomed in proportion to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For it is not [intended] that other people be eased and relieved [of their responsibility] and you be burdened and suffer [unfairly], But to have equality [share and share alike], your surplus over necessity at the present time going to meet their want and to equalize the difference created by it, so that [at some other time] their surplus in turn may be given to supply your want. Thus there may be equality, as it is written, He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little did not lack. [Exod. 16:18.]                      2 Corinthians 8:2-5, 9, 11-15

God is holy, therefore we must be holy.  Clothing is essential to stand in His presence.  You would not walk down the street naked why would you attempt to stand before God naked or be satisfied to watch your neighbor walk through life naked.  Share your clothing, and in so doing share Jesus.

For it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy. [Lev. 11:44, 45.]              1 Peter 1:16 AMPC

You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God. But the Word of the Lord (divine instruction, the Gospel) endures forever. And this Word is the good news which was preached to you. [Isa. 40:6-9.]  1 Peter 1:23, 25 AMPC

Behold, I am going to come like a thief! Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who stays awake (alert) and who guards his Clothes, so that he may not be naked and [have the shame of being] seen exposed!     Revelation 16:15 AMPC