Colossians 3:12-17

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

There is a tendency to think that the Bible is all about telling us what not to do.  However, the focus of this passage is all about the attitudes and actions that should mark our lives.  God wants us to love one another, experience peace, and be directed by His Word in all we do.  This is the way He would have us to live our lives.

 

LOVE GOD’S PEOPLE THAT ARE WITH YOU: God’s call on our lives is to be holy and loving.  We are to walk with kindness, humility, and patience in our relationships with one another.  However, as sinners, it is almost certain that we will not always act in such a way towards one another.  This will result in us needing to forgive each other as part of our daily walk.  Christ has forgiven us fully and freely having never once sinned.  We constantly sin against one another so it only stands to reason that we would forgive others because we need others to forgive us.  When we refuse to forgive and one another, it only stand to reason that we should question if we have experience the forgiveness of love of Christ.

 

LIVE GOD’S PEACE WITHIN YOU: God has declared that we are no longer at war with Him because all His wrath was poured out on Christ.  This allows us to experience a perfect peace with God.  Our gratitude for what Christ has done for us should overflow into a life of peace with one another.  There is not a place in the body of Christ for unresolved conflict.  Our peace with God should bring about a peace of mind and heart that overflows into all our relationships.  

 

LET GOD’S WORD DWELL IN YOU: God’s Word is the standard to which we are called to live.  His instructions should fill our minds and hearts so that our actions and attitudes are naturally aligned with what He has revealed.  His Spirit dwells in us and fill us with joy and praise to His name.  We should be constantly reminding one another of the Word of God and the way of God with our words and worship.  God’s Word is not simply a list of dos and don’ts.  It is a outworking of the Spirit of God in our lives that simply flows into a life that is lived for the glory and praise of our Lord.

 

APPLICATION: Be kind to others and love them unconditionally.  We must be patient with one another and readily forgive each other as Christ has forgiven us.  Our relationships must be marked by peace.  Our attitudes and actions must be informed by the Word of God and empowered by the Spirit of God for the glory of God.

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