Several years ago, my wife and I decided to ride out of town and do a little shopping for Christmas.  We began by stopping at the mall, then we started hitting the small strip malls that seemed to be everywhere and have everything.  We came across a store whose outside sign read, “Coats and Coverings, Winter Coat Sale”.  I thought that it was an interesting name for a clothing store that must specialize in winter jackets and maybe sweaters.  Since it was wintertime, we decided to stop.  We were already thinking of friends and family that could use a good warm winter coat as a Christmas gift. 

Much to our surprise when we peered into the store from outside the windows, we quickly realized that this was not a warm winter wear clothing store but was actually a paint store named “Coats and Coverings”.  And sure enough, they had a huge sale going on for, well, …….paint.  Boy did we feel stupid!

When we left, I began to think about a moral truth based on my mistaken judgement about the paint store.  This led me to pen a phrase that I have used many times when it comes to Christian living.  “Does the sign that’s being advertised on the storefront of your life match what’s on the inside when the world looks through the windows of your lifestyle?” 

Colossians 1:10 - "So that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”  (NIV)