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As you know, when we come to the word therefore we back up to see what therefore is therefore. Our text starts with the words, Put on therefore: So lets do a quick review of Colossians 3:1-11. We see that having been raised with Christ Jesus to a new life in Him, we are to seek those things that come from Him in heaven. We are to set our affections on things above and not on things on the earth, because we are dead to sin and our lives are hid with Christ in God. Jesus, who is our life, will return and we will appear with Him in glory. Therefore, because of all this, we mortify and kill the deeds of our sinful flesh, which are expressed in sexual sin, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, lying and filthy speech. We have put on the new man which is patterned after the image of the indwelling Jesus and the image of Him is constantly being renewed after the pattern of out Creator. All divisions of race, gender, ethnicity and religious sect are erased in Him because He is the Savior of us all. Text: Colossians 3:12 ¶ Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Having come to new life in Christ, we not only have the obligation to cease to do evil, but to do good as well. Because we are the elect of God, holy and beloved by Him (Do we comprehend these words, we are the chosen (Jn. 15:16,19), elect (Mt. 13:27; 1Pe. 1:2), sanctified and set apart (1Co. 1:2), peculiar treasure (Ex. 19:5), jewels of God (Mal. 3:17). No need to be hanging our heads, we are the sons of the living God. He dwells in us and expresses His life through us (Gal. 2:20). Firstly, we are to put on bowels of mercies. Bowels of mercies seem like a rather uncouth statement but Greek scholars tell us that there is no word in the English language that expresses the depths that our understanding and compassion should reach, except to refer to our visceral parts, our guts. Jesus said that the living waters of His spirit would flow forth from our bellies (Jn. 4:10, 7:38). When we are not moved by the plight of others, whether their complaint is emotional of physical, we can safely say that their plight in not felt in our innermost being. James 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit? 1John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? Some say that our obligation for mercy is only for those in the church. I believe that as the opportunity presents itself we are obligated to do good for all men, especially those of the household of faith (Gal. 6:10). Just as mercies comes from our innermost being we are also to demonstrate, kindness, humbleness of mind, and meekness. Then there’s longsuffering, which can surely tax the limits of our endurance. But Galatians 2:20 tells us, “It’s not I that lives but Christ who lives in me………” He will give us strength and wisdom to handle these taxing situations. Text: Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. We are to forebear and forgive one another. Jesus said that If we don’t forgive our brothers and sisters, our heavenly Father will not forgive us (Mt. 6:15; Mk. 11:6). Lest we consider our brother’s trespass to be so grievous that we can’t forgive them, we need to consider our trespasses against Christ for which he freely forgave us. Text: Colossians 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Charity or love is the bond of perfection, the glue and cement that holds things together. Paul gives us a detailed description of pure charity in 1Corinthians 13. 1Corinthians 13:4 ¶ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. This type of love is unattainable in our natural selves, but once again, “It is not I that lives, but Christ who lives in me, and the life that I live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal. 2:20). Jesus loved His thick headed and disappointing disciples all the way to the cross (Jn. 13:1), and He loves us in spite of our imperfections. We must love our brothers and sisters in the same manner (Jn. 15:12; Eph. 5:2). Jesus is our High Priest (Heb. 3:1,4:14), and our go between God and man. He lives and makes constant intercession for our faults at the throne of God (Ro. 8:34). If His grace covers our faults, we shouldn’t be finding fault with our brothers and sisters, but rather pray and intercede for them. We perceive or comprehend the love of God because He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for others (Jn.15:13; 1Jn. 3:16, 4:11). Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Text: Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. We are to let the peace of God rule in our hearts. Peace is a fruit of God’s Spirit and has been freely given to us. It is up to us to let it rule in our lives. Likewise we are to be thankful and content with God’s provision. Like Paul, whether we are abased or abounding, we are thankful for what has been given to us (Php. 4:12; Eph. 5:20). John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Text: Colossians 3:16 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. The psalmist said that God’s word was a lamp to his feet and a light to his path. He hid the word in His heart that he might not sin against God (Ps. 119:105,111). Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Jesus said that His words were spirit and life (Jn. 6:63) and were eternal. Heaven and earth would pass away, but His words would still endure (Mk. 13:31). We must rightly divide the word of God and diligently follow that which applies to us today. We have a tendency to cherry pick the pleasant parts and ignore the unpleasant. But we need all of it. Text: Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Whatever we do in word or deed, we do in the name of the Lord Jesus. We don’t do good deeds to make points with God or to be seen of men. We do what we do in God’s name to glorify Him. Any works that we do with wrong motives will be burned as chaff at the judgment of God (1Cor. 3:15). Anything such as giving a cup of water in His name will receive a reward (Mt. 10:42). Works that we do in the name of Jesus, will not be unnoticed by Him and will certainly advance His kingdom. Malachi 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@about-him.com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe@about-him.com
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