Clothing can be something we take for granted, especially in winter time. It is almost routine to put on a coat when we go out in the cold weather but have you ever wondered about this seemingly ordinary activity. We rug up to keep ourselves warm and to be sheltered from the elements.

One day when out walking on a particularly cold day attention turned to the coat being worn. A new found appreciation dawned because this coat had been a gift. It wasn’t expected but, at this particular time, it was very much appreciated. It was providing warmth and shelter on a day when these things made the difference between an endurance exercise and an enjoyable walk.

There is an important reminder here of the gospel … the ‘good news’ of Jesus. A passage of Scripture speaks of ‘putting on the Lord Jesus Christ’. What does this mean? It means that he provides both warmth and shelter and in him people are to live in love. Because of the cross people can have the gift, received through faith, of forgiveness for the wrong things they have done. With this forgiveness comes a new relationship where he provides a warm shelter by having taken the punishment they deserved.