“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:12- 15
During my personal devotional time, I have enjoyed reading and studying through Colossians. Paul utilized his time imprisoned in Rome to write a letter to the church of Colossae, which was struggling with false truths of Jesus + (OT laws, the worship of angels, perfection, knowledge over faith) = salvation. False! Paul took the time to lovingly show that it is Jesus alone= salvation. Believers are united with Jesus in his death and raised to new life through his resurrection. We put to death the sinful flesh and put on Jesus. Here’s where we come to Colossians 3:12-15.
This passage begins with “Therefore” which pulls us back to verses 1-2, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” What does this look like? Putting off all that selfish, junky stuff that comes so easily in our sinful nature (Col 3:5) and putting on “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” v.12. The verb Paul uses is the same verb used to put on/off clothing. It’s a helpful picture- you take off a dirty shirt- it’s no longer a part of you and you put on the clean shirt. Sounds simple? It is with Christ, but oh so difficult if I try to do it myself. I’m envisioning my mom-moment when Isaac (my 2-year-old) is trying to take off a sweatshirt with a small head hole and getting stuck… I’ll be honest, I so desperately want to hold onto my sin and fight Jesus who is only trying to help me pull off the icky sweatshirt. If I just relax and stop fighting, it will make it better for me.
My new sweatshirt that Jesus puts on me is marked with “tender heartfelt compassion” (lit. translation), a “lowly attitude toward God (humility), a lowly attitude toward others (gentleness), self-restraint, steady response in the face of provocation (patience).” However, let’s not get confused… is it Jesus+ compassion? Jesus + humility? Gentleness? Patience? No, Paul reminds us that since we are unified with Jesus, these attributes are a result of our belief and love for Jesus. Our lives look different because we love Jesus. If someone is wearing a sports jersey, or a t-shirt from a beach, I immediately know that they have some sort of affiliation with that team or place. The same goes for our compassion, humility, gentleness, patience, and love! When people see us live out these attributes in all circumstances, it points people to Jesus- the one we are not only affiliated with but completely unified with for all eternity.
This seems like such a basic concept, but something that can be a daily struggle. I echo Paul’s prayer in the beginning of Colossians, that the gospel would grow and flourish at our church, that God would give us knowledge of His will and spiritual wisdom and understanding, living at peace with one another.
Mandy and Colton Hinkle attends Grace Baptist Church of Millersville, PA. She is the daughter of Rob and Bonnie.