Colossians 3:12–17 (ESV)
Put
on the New Self
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility,
meekness, and patience, 13 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. 14 And above all
these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 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. 17 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.
If you ever ask yourself how we are to live, today’s reading nails it. One of the things I have said that is our “identity” is forgiveness. Too often we are quick to get our feelings hurt and to put on our fighting gloves,
whether through our lips, thoughts, or actions. Note that verse 13 says: “13 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.” This is reinforced by the Lord’s Prayer when we pray “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Our motivation in living this way is not so that we can go to heaven. No…
we are not justified by works. Our motivation is love. God loves us and forgives us and that is our motivation to walk according to His ways.
I pray: O
Lord, help me to love and forgive others, and to keep my eyes focused on you. Amen.