#1128. Clothe yourselves (23/8/24)

https://www.communitychurchputney.com/post/1128-clothe-yourselves-23-8-24

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional and our summer inspiration series. Today, as we finish our reflection in Colossians 3, we consider the attributes that we need to ‘Clothe ourselves with’ and ‘put on’ in order to have healthy relationships.

To watch this devotional, follow the link below:

https://youtu.be/R6dEbWPCdvY

‘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.’ (Colossians 3:12-14)

Colossians 3:12–14

Yesterday, we began to look at these verses. We considered how understanding how we have been loved by God, is essential for how we then treat others. It’s on the basis of our new identity that we are to ‘put on the new self’.

i. Compassion

This is to feel deeply for others’ suffering. It says of Jesus:

‘When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.’ (Matt 9:36)

Matthew 9:36

As Jesus has shown us compassion, we are to show compassion. A big reason why the church is so often prayer-less and fruitless is that she is not dressed in Jesus’ compassion. Compassion is what gives urgency to our faith.

ii. Kindness

Our compassion is to overflow into acts of kindness rather than unwise zeal that burns people. This refers to acts of kindness in light of God’s kindness to us in Christ. This kindness is best expressed in the gospel as Paul writes:

‘And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.’ (Ephesians 2:6-7)

Ephesians 2:6–7

iii. Humility

This is to imitate Christ in His humble service to God and us. This is about not thinking too highly of oneself. Someone with humility does not always have to have his or her way or have the high-status roles. They are more aware of their own failures than those of others. The opposite is pride, which is revealed when we are easily offended and fail to humbly serve. We are to be like Christ of who we read:

‘And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!’ (Philippians 2:8)

Philippians 2:8

iv . Gentleness/meekness

We are to dress in the meekness of Christ. Jesus tells us:

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

Matthew 11:29

To dress or be ‘yoked’ with meekness is to have strength but to have it under control; Jesus, for example, is terribly powerful (omnipotent), yet He treats us with gentleness! likewise, we are to exert the appropriate amount of force in our relationships.

v. Patience

This is ‘long-suffering’. this is to put up with people who annoy us for whatever reason. Too many people leave their local church or area because they are not prepared to have patience. However, Jesus’ patience toward us is to be imitated in our lives! Let’s dress in patience.

Response

In response, are we applying this ‘therefore’? Are we treating others as we have been treated by God? Let’s dress like Jesus. Why would we want to wear the old and grubby fashions of our old life? Many people give so much of their time to researching and buying fashionable clothing; however, are we devoted to considering and dressing in the new wardrobe given to us by God? As we ‘put on’ the right things and ‘put off’ the old things, we will have healthy and God-honouring relationships.