03/26/2008
8But now you must also put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his practices 10and have put on the new man, who is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of his Creator.
Colossians 3:12 - 14 (HCSB)
12Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must [forgive]. 14Above all, [put on] love—the perfect bond of unity.
Most people have a winter wardrobe and a summer wardrobe. In the spring, when the weather begins to get warmer, they will pack away all the winter clothes and bring out the summer clothes in preparation for the higher temperatures. The winter clothes are just not appropriate anymore.
In this passage, we get a similar imagery. Before we knew Christ, our natural character consisted of certain activities. But now, being a new creation in Christ, we should take those old things and not just pack them away, but trash them completely. Because there are new behaviors that we should bring out. The old behaviors are no longer appropriate.
In this macho, me-first world, the attributes of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience would (or could) be seen as weakness. TV shows like “House” demonstrate the compassionless attitude that (in the show) is acceptable. And I fear that even in real life, a lack of compassion is completely acceptable.
Yet, God desires not only that we live in a right relationship with HIM, but we also should live in harmony with each other. To do this, we need to set aside the “me-first” attitudes. We need to quit thinking that what we want is more important than what others want (or need). When we begin to serve others, we find a satisfaction far greater than when we are served.
Think about your day yesterday; did you have the old behaviors or the new? Now think about today; what behaviors will you show?
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2008 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
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