Colossians 3:12-13
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. – Colossians 3:12
Click to read passage
Brothers and sisters, in the previous passage, Paul reminded us that since we have taken off the old self and put on the new self, we should no longer live or relate to others in the way we once did. In today’s passage, he goes on to show us what this new life in Christ should look like.
Paul describes the qualities that we are to “put on,” like clothing. In other words, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are not optional extras for Christians. They are the distinctive marks of those who belong to Christ.
Yet these virtues are not meant to be seen only during worship services or personal devotions. They are meant to shape the way we relate to people every day, especially when there is disagreement, tension, or conflict in our relationships. It is often in those moments that it becomes most evident whether we are responding according to our old nature or living out the likeness of Christ.
And we all know that the hardest people to love are often not strangers, but those closest to us.
When a colleague keeps shifting responsibility to others; when the actions of a fellow believer in your small group leave you disappointed; when a parent or spouse says something hurtful again and again; it is easy to become impatient, cold, or even silently condemn them in our hearts.
This reveals the condition of our hearts. We naturally want others to change so that our lives become more comfortable. We are thankful when grace is shown to us, but often hesitant to offer that same grace to others. We want people to understand our struggles, yet we are not always willing to understand theirs.
But the gospel reminds us that God does not treat us according to our performance.
While we were still rebellious, helpless, and lost in our sin, Christ gave Himself for us, forgave our sins, and welcomed us into God’s family as His beloved children. Paul does not say, “Forgive others if they deserve it.” Instead, he says, “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:13)
We are able to forgive not because others deserve it, but because we ourselves live each day under the grace that Christ has freely given to us.
The more deeply we understand how much we have been forgiven, the more we are able to respond to the failures of others with grace. True gentleness and patience are not simply products of good temperament or self-discipline. They are the fruit of Christ’s transforming work within us.
May we remember each day who we are: God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved (v.12). Therefore, let us replace coldness with compassion, criticism with kindness, pride with humility, harshness with gentleness, and impatience with patience. As we bear with and forgive one another, may we live out the grace of Christ in our relationships.
Reflection:
Is there someone in your life whom you find difficult to treat with gentleness, patience, or understanding? Would you be willing to reflect again on the forgiveness and grace you have received in Christ, and allow that grace to shape the way you respond to that person today?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father God, thank You for choosing us and loving us in Christ. Thank You that we can call You our Father because of what Jesus has done for us. We confess that we are often quick to notice the faults of others while forgetting how much grace we ourselves have received. We want others to be patient with us, yet we are often slow to show compassion, gentleness, and patience to those around us. Thank You that Jesus did not treat us as our sins deserved, but forgave us and welcomed us by His grace. Help us to remember the mercy You have shown us. By Your Spirit, teach us to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Help us to bear with one another and forgive one another, just as Christ has forgiven us. May our words, attitudes, and actions reflect the character of Jesus, so that others may see Your love through our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Click to read passage
Brothers and sisters, in the previous passage, Paul reminded us that since we have taken off the old self and put on the new self, we should no longer live or relate to others in the way we once did. In today’s passage, he goes on to show us what this new life in Christ should look like.
Paul describes the qualities that we are to “put on,” like clothing. In other words, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience are not optional extras for Christians. They are the distinctive marks of those who belong to Christ.
Yet these virtues are not meant to be seen only during worship services or personal devotions. They are meant to shape the way we relate to people every day, especially when there is disagreement, tension, or conflict in our relationships. It is often in those moments that it becomes most evident whether we are responding according to our old nature or living out the likeness of Christ.
And we all know that the hardest people to love are often not strangers, but those closest to us.
When a colleague keeps shifting responsibility to others; when the actions of a fellow believer in your small group leave you disappointed; when a parent or spouse says something hurtful again and again; it is easy to become impatient, cold, or even silently condemn them in our hearts.
This reveals the condition of our hearts. We naturally want others to change so that our lives become more comfortable. We are thankful when grace is shown to us, but often hesitant to offer that same grace to others. We want people to understand our struggles, yet we are not always willing to understand theirs.
But the gospel reminds us that God does not treat us according to our performance.
While we were still rebellious, helpless, and lost in our sin, Christ gave Himself for us, forgave our sins, and welcomed us into God’s family as His beloved children. Paul does not say, “Forgive others if they deserve it.” Instead, he says, “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:13)
We are able to forgive not because others deserve it, but because we ourselves live each day under the grace that Christ has freely given to us.
The more deeply we understand how much we have been forgiven, the more we are able to respond to the failures of others with grace. True gentleness and patience are not simply products of good temperament or self-discipline. They are the fruit of Christ’s transforming work within us.
May we remember each day who we are: God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved (v.12). Therefore, let us replace coldness with compassion, criticism with kindness, pride with humility, harshness with gentleness, and impatience with patience. As we bear with and forgive one another, may we live out the grace of Christ in our relationships.
Reflection:
Is there someone in your life whom you find difficult to treat with gentleness, patience, or understanding? Would you be willing to reflect again on the forgiveness and grace you have received in Christ, and allow that grace to shape the way you respond to that person today?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father God, thank You for choosing us and loving us in Christ. Thank You that we can call You our Father because of what Jesus has done for us. We confess that we are often quick to notice the faults of others while forgetting how much grace we ourselves have received. We want others to be patient with us, yet we are often slow to show compassion, gentleness, and patience to those around us. Thank You that Jesus did not treat us as our sins deserved, but forgave us and welcomed us by His grace. Help us to remember the mercy You have shown us. By Your Spirit, teach us to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Help us to bear with one another and forgive one another, just as Christ has forgiven us. May our words, attitudes, and actions reflect the character of Jesus, so that others may see Your love through our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.