Colossians 3:12-17
Well, it’s been a while since I last posted an entry. The weeks have been longer and busier than usual it seems as spring comes to a close. Actually, I think I’m just running out of steam! Our house project is now moving to the outside where the exterior needs to be prepped for painting, and the yard needs some heavy duty work. With Lyanne, only a few more days left of school! She is looking forward to a nice summer off to recoup from a difficult class (not to mention working fulltime). I think in all of this, I find it so true that while the body will not endure forever, the Word of God will. My body may not hold up well, and I may not be able to do everything I used to, but the Word will always be as strong and applicable as the day God spoke them into being.
This week we are looking at a shorter passage, but it is so full of some great truths for living. That does not make it easy, though, as you will undoubtedly see soon enough. Take a moment now and read the passage for this week:
Colossians 3:12-17 (New International Version)
12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
——-
I’d like you take a few minutes (or more) to really dwell on this passage. Just looking at the first half is pretty incredible. The “clothing” here is quite a list!
Have you ever traveled to a place where the temperatures were at extreme ends of the weather scale – freezing at night but hot during the day? Packing for these trips can be a real struggle because one has to bring every kind of clothing to suit the weather variations (and meeting that 50 lb luggage limit at the airport can require some creative packing!). That’s what I see here in this passage. Life is so full of variety and extremes that one has to be prepared for it all. And so it is not surprising that the list of “clothing” here is very extensive.
As we go through the week, let’s consider the clothes we are wearing. Are we putting on the ever important qualities listed in this passage? Really let those qualities sink in. Even write them down and put them in sight as a reminder. Just as physical clothes keep us cool or keep us warm, the spiritual clothes given to us as children beloved of God prepare us for every situation so that we might communicate the love of Christ as He would Himself.
