Put it on........

Colossians 3:12-17

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

OK, I know there's a WHOLE lot of meat in there. We're told to put on some things. How do we put them on? Well, when you wake up in the morning, do your clothes just jump up on you? No, you have to put them on, right? It's a conscious decision and physical action. Well, we need to do the same with tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, and LONG suffering. Hehehehe. (Perhaps we need to physically act like we're really putting on all these things.....and speak it: "I put on tender mercies, kindness, meekness, long suffering.......this day, in Jesus name.") We need to bear with one another and forgive one another, even as Christ forgave us.....we MUST do. He doesn't say if you feel like it, or want to.....no, do it. You may say, "Brother, it's addressing the 'elect' of God, that's not me!" Oh yea it is. You are a child of the King....I don't care whether you're in leadership or not. We are all ambassadors for Christ. We're all one body, the body of Christ. And while you're at it, put on love and let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Teach each other the word of God, and sing with, and to, one another songs of praise to God. In so many areas, we need to grow up. I need to grow up. With the Lord's help it's happening. We're all human, and we're not (any of us) perfect. We're still in this stinking flesh and at times we're going to mess up. You, me, your pastor, your friend, your brother, your sister.......everyone will mess up once in a while. We purpose in our hearts not to, but at times it happens. So we need to put on those things we mentioned before. Be merciful even when mercy is not shown to you. Let God be the judge, you live for Him according to His word, and encourage one another with the word of God. And also, whatever you do in word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. That's great advice. We can't belittle others, hate them, judge them, curse them.......if we purpose in our hearts to do all that we do in the name of the Lord, can we? Have a wonderful day and God bless. :-) Pastor James