Our cat Neelix is getting old. You can see the pain as his arthritis-riddled body waddles around.

He’s always had a distinctive cry. More a bellow than a meow.

He’d wake us every morning at 4 am by unleashing a blast of bellows. It is still a mystery to us how he knew it was 4 am.

But the last few months, he began bellowing for hours from midnight until dawn.

My wife figured out what was wrong. Neelix was cold!

Not only were the heat waves of Summer giving way to the chills of Fall. But most of his fur was shaved off by the vet because it had become matted and snarled as he aged (despite my wife’s diligent efforts to brush him daily).

At first, my wife ordered a sweater online. But it was too tight. Neelix hated it.

So my wife made Neelix a sweater that was exactly the right size and fit for him.

He loved his bespoke sweater from the moment she first put it on him. He’s so proud—and handsome—as he waddles around in it. The other cats are jealous!

Neelix no longer bellows at night! Not a peep out of him. He sleeps right through the night. And so do we!

Jesus warned that, when wickedness increases, “the love of most will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12).

If you feel your love growing cold because of the increase of wickedness, what can you do about it?

How can you keep your love hot? (Matthew 22:36-40)

How can you stand firm to the end and be saved? (Matthew 24:13)

How can you put the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount into practice so that when disasters befall you, you can still stand firm? (Matthew 7:24-27)

Wear the “bespoke sweater” that the LORD has knit for you!

It will fit you and your circumstances perfectly. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Jesus said his yoke is easy (Matthew 11:30).

This means that the yoke fits you well. A yoke that fits the oxen poorly rubs the oxen painfully, making it harder to pull the cart.

To be a “bespoke yoke”—a “bespoke sweater”—requires the finest materials.

The Apostle Paul specified these perfect materials by using an example from the arms and armor of a Roman soldier. He told us how to be garbed spiritually by describing the Roman soldiers guarding him in prison.

Paul urged disciples of Jesus:

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit . . ..

(Ephesians 6:14-18 (emphasis added)).

What is the “bespoke sweater” that the LORD wants to knit for you?

How does this bespoke sweater keep your love hot?

How does this bespoke sweater keep you standing firm to the end, no matter what catastrophes befall you?

Your “bespoke sweater” is made from truth, righteousness, peace, salvation, the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and praying in the Spirit.

No wonder this “bespoke sweater” fits you well. It’s easy for you to wear. It’s comfortable for you to wear.

It helps you grow the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

BACKGROUND

We named Neelix after the character in Star Trek: Voyager because his face reminds us of the beloved alien’s face. They both have a distinctively similar nose and colorful, upturned, smiling cheeks.

I am indebted to author Carol McLeod for explaining that what Jesus meant by an “easy” yoke is that the yoke fits the oxen well. As a craftsman by trade, Jesus was sensitive to the need to craft the yoke to fit each ox. To be comfortable for each ox. To help each ox. To be a “bespoke yoke”. A “bespoke sweater”.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

Is your love growing cold because of the increase of wickedness? How? Why?

Do you believe that a “bespoke sweater” knit by the LORD can keep your love hot? How? Why?

Do you believe that a “bespoke sweater” knit by the LORD can keep you standing firm to the end, no matter what catastrophes befall you? How? Why?

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For more thoughts inspired by our pets, please read “The Star of Bethlehem Was a ‘Can of Tuna Fish’”, “The Angel Beside Me”, “Angel Knocking My Book Out of My Hands”, “Angel: Craving and Blocking Living Water”, “Eating Too Much Too Quickly”, “Eat the Right Cat Food”, “Stop Stopping Me”, “Stop Drinking Stagnant Water”, “Lucifer Makes Bad Choices”, “Lucifer Stalking Prey To Devour Them”, “Toto Begging for Food”, “My Cats Greet Me Eagerly for the Sunrise”, and “I Love You, Gram. Bye!”.