Colossians 3:12-14 "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."
Probably all of us begin our day cleansing and putting on our clothes without much regard to the characteristics that Paul is talking about here. I'll be honest, I frequently pray through covering myself with the armor of God but I don't give a second thought about clothing myself with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, etc. Now I hope that I am all those things to others but I haven't probably dwelt on them as much as I should have.
Paul is telling us here that we should also put on love. We should consciously cover ourselves, clothe ourselves with love which should be the characteristic by which all Christians are known. How are you known by others? Are you known for being theologically sound? for serving in the community? for helping with the shut-ins? Maybe your known for your wisdom or your amazing strength. Are you known for your ability to encourage others or as one who has experienced God in marvelous ways? But then Christ says, "but do you love!"
In 1 Corinthians Paul explains that we can make every effort to engage others but if we have no love for them then it means nothing. "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor. 13:1-3)
Can you see what Christ is trying to say here? All of these abilities and experiences are empty gestures unless they are offered in love. True faith has a practical expression of love.
The greatest way to reach the world is to show them Jesus by the compassion and love that we impart to others. But if that is going to happen, we must recognize that we have a responsibility to put on love daily. We must make ever effort to give of ourselves and reach beyond what is comfortable and easy to demonstrate the same kind of love that Jesus did while He walked the earth. Even in these evil times, demonstrations of love capture the attention of the world around us. My friends, I'll be covering myself with love tomorrow morning. What about you? And they will know we are Christians by our love . . .
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Personalize this prayer.
Dear Lord,
Thank you for loving me and showing me what it means to love others. You are compassionate, kind, and merciful and reach down to each of us personally to show us how much you love us. I only hope that You will empower Your Holy Spirit to enable me to love like You. I want others to see nothing other than the love of Christ after I have spent time with them. Please give me the mind of Christ so that I can see the needs of others and then the time and ability to show them Your love through the efforts that I make to help. Use me to make a difference in this lost and dying world. May I be a bright light in the midst of someone's day that shines forth for the Kingdom which has no end.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
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