Colossians 3:12-17

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” - Colossians 3:12

 

As we wrap up this devotional series based on the book of Colossians, it’s fitting that Paul sends us off first, with a reminder of our identity in Christ and second, with a reminder of how we are to live in this world. Identity then lifestyle. That’s the order of operations here in Colossians. Identity then lifestyle.

 

Paul has been clear throughout Colossians that God doesn’t love us because of how we behave. No, God loves us in spite of our sin and brokenness. But now that we know God has reached down from Heaven and pulled us out of sin and death, everything changes.

 

We are different people. New people. And so Paul urges us to start acting like it!

 

Compassion. Kindness. Humility. Gentleness. Patience. These are the characteristics Christ calls us to “put on”. Especially in a world that sees these as weaknesses, the Church is called to stand for something different. Whether those whom we encounter on a daily basis are executives, residents of Murphy Park, or immigrants to this country, the call is the same.

 

Compassion. Kindness. Humility. Gentleness. Patience. Oh yeah...and love.  

 

Imperfect though we are, the Word of God continues to transform us. That’s why we’ve been talking a lot lately about “Growing Together in God’s Word”. God’s Word works in our lives. It works to create in us a brand-new identity: God’s chosen people. And it works to transform us from what we once were into people marked by the same compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love for which Christ has shown to us.

 

In Christ,

Pastor Nick

 

This week, take a look at Colossians 3:12-17, answer the questions on pages 36-37 of the Living Way Bible Study, and join us at 8:45am on Sunday for our final week studying Paul’s Letter to the Colossians.


Finally, be sure to join us each Sunday beginning July 15th for a new sermon series on the book of Ephesians called Known. Each week will include personal devotional questions which will also be the basis for our Adult Bible Study.