November 13

And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  Colossians 3:12-14.

Here we immediately see our position in Christ—holy and beloved.  We have been given the heart of Jesus—one that shows compassion, kindness, humility and gentleness.  All we are reminded to do is to put on this heart.  Of course this is an act of faith in response to what Christ has already done.  We are to believe that God has made us a new creation that can fulfill all of His desires for us and for those around us.

In the body of Christ we learn to bear and forgive one another.  Often it seems to be a paradox that the very ones with whom we have been joined are also the very ones that can give us difficulties.  Yet, that is where we work out our salvation—learning to deal with our rough edges so that we are better equipped to face the world. 

Finally Paul reminds us to put on love—the agape kind that knows no limit or that seeks nothing in return.  Therein lies our unity, in love.  The world will marvel at this, and certainly so shall we, for to discover these facts about our relationships with others is to fulfill the very purpose of the Gospel.  The process of showing God’s love is the ultimate healing force.

Thank You Father for giving us this new heart.  We will not abuse it or ignore it, for we want only to put it to use.  You have made all of this possible in love, and we will use what You have done as we walk together in love.  Amen.

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