Compassion
Put On… – Part III
Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:8-17
Key Verse: Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
We’ve been looking at the phrase “put on”. It is an action to “put on” something that is true, not in a hypocritical way but in a way that is a statement of our faith in what God is doing in us.
Now the Apostle Paul, the author of Colossians, turns to another analogy for “put on”; that is, putting on clothes.
Our Key Verse for today reminds us that we are “God’s chosen people”. Since we are His chosen people, we ought to “dress like it”. You might say this is like a person who suddenly becomes wealthy and then needs to learn how to dress like it.
The Apostle Paul goes on to remind us that as God’s “wealthy” people, we are holy, and God dearly loves us. God’s dear love helps us be generous with other people around us and to share this love with them.
One could translate this verse as: “Therefore as God’s chosen people, who are holy and dearly loved, dress yourself in a way that attracts other people to be God’s child as well”.
The next question that comes to mind is: what “clothes” make people want to be in God’s family? The Apostle Paul might say “I’m glad you asked.” Paul describes these “clothes” as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. It does not matter whether a person is an atheist or someone who believes in God. These “clothes” look and feel good to everyone.
If you had not accepted Christ, would you want a lecture about Jesus? Or would you want everyone around you to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient?
This is the reason I chose “compassion” as the third element in being Kingdom Fit.
Remind yourself that people without Christ do not need your knowledge about Jesus as much as they need the compassion that you have in Christ!
You can testify about God’s goodness, mercy, and compassion to you. So do likewise to others around you. Once you understand this and decide that you want to be that kind of person, God steps in and begins to help you.
You bless your family, friends, and co-workers if you clothe yourself every day with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Try it, they will like it!
Father, I want to be to others what You have been to me. Grant me wisdom and strength to show compassion to ALL people today. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.