“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” – Col. 3:12-17
As you can see from this text so much in the Christians life is making the choice to live as God commands and describes. These command us, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to:
1. “Put on…” a list of items which are the new specific clothing items we have been given and that we need to put them on every day to reflect Him, just like getting dressed in the morning.
2. Next he commands, “above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” It is this act of love…loving as Christ loved us… that binds everything good together.
3. He, then commands, “Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts…”this command highlights that we can make this choice through the Spirit because “since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
4. “Be” as in “Be thankful” to highlight the things God has given us and expects that we will do with them in affliction or celebration what brings Him glory. Being thankful is not something, then, that we might do, it is something we must “BE”!
5. Then he commands, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom…” How important it is that Christ’s word dwell in us for it lets our spirit and others know who we are committed to…the One who has saved us and given us eternal life.
6. And lastly a string of general commands, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” This command covers everything else that the Apostle doesn’t mention specifically.
These commands remind us how we are to live daily but there are also phrases that point to Paul’s point that we must make “right” choices; “forgiving one another…you must also forgive…with thankfulness in your hearts to God …do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks…”As believers He says we can make these decisions to do as God commands us “through Him”…through Christ. We have been given faith through Christ’s death and resurrection and the outworking of the faith. The proof, if you will, of our faith…is the faithful living out of God’s commands.
Easter is around the proverbial corner and this is a great reminder of our need to constantly be making the choice in Christ to “Put on”… to “let the peace of Christ rule our hearts…” to “be thankful” to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” These characteristics should define us and it should be seen in us through our actions…actions that bring God glory.
But as I have often said, it is not always “easy” to give thanks…to muster the energy, if you will, to give thanks. But in Christ through the power of His Word and Spirit we can! Own that reality and you will find that in Christ and by His grace you can rise above to afflictions of life and enjoy the celebration of life more fully.
I love the Heidelberg Catechism’s first question as a great reminder why we are to live as God commands: What is my only comfort in life and in death? That I, with body and soul, both in life and in death, am not my own, but belong to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ, who with His precious blood has fully satisfied for all my sins, and redeemed me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me, that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must work together for my salvation. Wherefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me heartily willing and ready henceforth to live unto Him.
All of these are wonderful reasons for keeping God’s commands on a daily basis. Oh, and if God commands it…we are able through the Spirit to fulfill our King’s commands!
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
