Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, Colossians 3:12 NABRE
Paul is writing to the community of Colossae, a community he has not met, consisting of mostly Gentiles and some Jews. He is writing because a certain philosophy is breaking out in the community, which seems to be an external distraction and threat to the gospel that has been preached. In the section near the end of the letter with the quoted verse, Paul is painting an image of stripping off, like removing clothing, stripping bad behaviors, putting on new behaviors. He has given the image that baptism is the death of the old self and as we are raised from the water we receive a new self, our true self. For Paul things like anger, fury, malice, slander, obscene language, and lying to one another should be taken off. We should remember there is no Greek, Jew, baptized, unbaptized, slave or free, but Christ is in everyone. We are all God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved. A term taken from the Hebrew Scriptures to say that all are chosen. At first a select were chosen to give an example, so we have a source where God is known. Now, God declares all are chosen. Paul goes on to tell them their new self is to be people who are compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, and as a people forgiven we must forgive. The outside garment, the overall characteristic of we who are chosen, holy and beloved of God, is to put on love. They will know we are Christians by our love.
Jesus leads us to a better life and makes life better, because we are challenged to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forgiving and loving. Living these characteristics make us better and makes life better for us.
Have you removed your old-self? Have you accepted your new-true-self?
Jesus leads us to a better life and makes life better, because we are challenged to be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forgiving and loving. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #forgive #love #Paul #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray #prayer #goodnews #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion