Compassion
Put On… – Part VI
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.
Colossians 3:15 of our Scripture Reading, we see the instructions of “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…”.
As God’s children, He helps us to know whether we are acting in a Christ-like way or in a way that hurts the influence of the Kingdom. I am sure you have felt bad because you used some unpleasant words, or you took some action you regretted.
That is God withdrawing His peace from your mind so you would know not to say those words or not do that action in the future. God is helping you be a better follower of His. The Apostle Paul is saying to let those moments do their work in you. Let God’s peace, or lack of peace, guide your life.
Learning to let God’s peace guide your life takes some time. The good news is that God is very patient with us. This is one of the reasons that God expects us to be patient with others. God wants us to pass on to others what He does for us!
In this learning process, there will be failures… many failures. When we do not listen to our hearts as the Holy Spirit informs, we usually experience pain. This pain can come from wrecked relationships because we said some things that God did not want us to say. God withdraws His peace to show us that we were in the wrong, but sometimes our stubbornness takes over and we justify our hurtful words. If we continue to turn our backs on God’s peace, we destroy relationships.
Sometimes the pain we experience is financial when we do not listen to God’s voice in our purchases. Sometimes when I am getting ready to buy a big-ticket item, I sense that I do not have peace about it. When I let God’s peace guide my purchases, I have financial peace. When I do not listen, then I lose His peace and struggle with stress and worry over finances. If you have been there, you know that it is always better to wait for God’s peace in all our purchases.
Father, I give You permission to guide my life. Please remind me to listen to the peace or lack of peace in my heart. Help me to obey Your voice, that I might enjoy Your peace in my heart. In Jesus’s Name I pray, amen.