Colossians 3:12, 13 - Christian Clothing; Character.
Colossians 3:12, 13 (NIV) Therefore, as
God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and
forgive whatever grievances you may have against one
another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Colossians 3:12, 13 (NLT) Since God chose
you to be the holy people he loves, you must
clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy,
kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make
allowance for each others faults, and forgive
anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave
you, so you must forgive others.
COMMENTARY PEARL
How to Know Who Your Real Friends Are
One thing that always astounds me is the
number of people who put conditions on their
relationships with others. Im talking about those
people who say, Ill be your friend if
or Ill be your friend until.
Thats so sad because it goes against the very
definition of friendship!
Real friendship is unconditional. A true
friend is one who stays your friend even when you
mess up. Its not about what you do for them.
Their friendship is about the love they have for
you and will have for you no matter what.
This should impact both how we choose our
friends, as well as the kind of friends we are to
other people. Biblical friendship reflects the
love of Christ and sticks together through thick
and thin. In the way that Christ accepts you
regardless of your performance, so we are to accept
others.
If you want to know who your real friends
are, just make a mistake and see who stays
around. Youll find that some friends will
leave like rats scurrying off a sinking ship. But
the real friends in your life will be with you
no matter what. Find and be that kind of
friend!
Seek Out And Be A Good Friend Who Loves
Others Despite Their Performance.
[PowerPoint Today by Jack Graham;
https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/powerpoint/]
COMMENTARY
New Clothes
The Kingdom of God does not require
uniforms. We'll be dressed in robes of righteousness,
of course; white is always "in" in the Kingdom.
But we remain individuals with unique
personalities, preferences, and styles. We have different
gifts, different callings, and different
demonstrations of the nature of Christ within us. We
conform to one Person, but He expresses Himself
through us in a dazzling variety of ways.
But that doesn't mean our wardrobe is
unlimited. Jesus doesn't offer us the same old clothes
we used to have. Where we once dressed
ourselves in insecurity, a need to impress,
competitiveness, shame, manipulation and control, and so much
more, we are given a beautiful new wardrobe full
of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness,
and patience. And honestly, we look better in
the new clothes. Some people may not think so;
the fashions of the Kingdom are a little
off-trend for the world's tastes. But their subdued
elegance has the effect of tastefully standing out.
We are called to stand out - not just to
admire the clothes of the Kingdom or to have them
hanging in our closet, but to actually put them on
and wear them in public. Regardless of the
world's dress code, these clothes are appropriate
for any occasion because they were given to us
by the King to wear in His Kingdom. As citizens
of that realm, we are to have a certain style.
It's okay not to blend in. We have the amazing
opportunity to dress ourselves in clothes that fit our
new nature perfectly.
As you get dressed every morning, see
yourself also putting on the new clothes of the
Kingdom. Wear the royal attitudes daily. Let them
adorn you beautifully, for all to see. And when
you walk the red carpet of the Kingdom, no one
will have to ask who made that dress or designed
that tux. They'll know. It all comes from the
wardrobe of the King. [The One Year Heaven On Earth
Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
Set Your Mind
I have learned over the years the value
of purposely setting my mind on things I want
to happen throughout the day, instead of
passively waiting to see what kind of thoughts I
happen to have. Just as we choose our clothes and
purposely put them on, we can and should choose our
thoughts, because what we meditate on often becomes
our reality (see Proverbs 23:7). Where the
mind goes, the man follows" is one of my favorite
sayings!
Today I set my mind to be strong,
energetic, and joyful. I have decided to enjoy this day
and to be a blessing everywhere I go. The more I
think positive things, the more excited and
empowered I feel! God is waiting to bless His
children, but we need to expect Him to do so. What are
you expecting from God today? Nothing? A little?
A lot?
I taught this in our office chapel this
week, and an employee came to work the next day
and said, "I have lots of problems at home,
especially with my teenage son who argues with me
constantly. After hearing Joyce speak on expecting good
things, I decided to try it. Instead of driving home
dreading the evening, I went home expecting something
good. My son looked at me when I got home and told
me that he loved me, something I hadn't heard
in along, long time."
Aggressive expectation is faith in
action! Release your faith for God's best in your
life and get ready for an upgrade in blessings.
Father, I am sorry I have been so passive
about my thoughts. Forgive me, and help me learn
to think in a way that will release Your best
in my life. [My Time with God by Joyce Meyer]
ILLUSTRATION
Unless you know exactly where and what to
look for, it is sometimes hard to figure out if a
house cat is male or female. Not so with lions.
Lions are the only cats that have males that
appear distinctly different than females. Can you
guess what that characteristic is?
We admire the magnificent mane of golden
hair tipped with black and marvel at what a regal
look it gives to a male lion. In our mind's eye
we see the lion perched on a prominent outcrop
of rock surveying the landscape at sunset, its
mane blowing in the breeze. No wonder people
refer to the lion as the king of beasts.
Scientists look at that mane and wonder
why the male has a thick mane of hair on his
head and neck. What could its purpose be? It
certainly isn't there to keep them warm, because they
live in hot climates. A long, dark mane absorbs
more heat and is hard on lions during the hottest
part of the year. (Lions do grow longer manes
when the temperatures are cooler.) Does the
lion's mane protect his neck when fighting other
males? Scientists conclude probably not, because
while all types of cats are armed with lethal
teeth and claws, only lions have manes. Nor do
researchers find any evidence that lions without manes
have more wounds to their head and neck. Thus the
mane is probably not for protection in battle
either. So what is its purpose?
After many years of careful study,
biologists now believe that a lion's mane gives other
lions a message. When a lion has a long dark mane,
it lets females know that he is strong and
healthy. It attracts females, while males keep their
distance. Males choose not to fight a lion with a long
dark mane because it is a clear signal of his
victory in baffle.
How do you signal others to let them know
that you are a Christian? Is it the way you dress
or what you eat, or the fact that you carry
your Bible? Some might think so. But the clearest
signal that you can give is the way that you treat
others.
King of kings and Lord of lords, may my
love, kindness, and compassion for others be as
easy to detect as the mane on a lion. Empower, me
to be a good ambassador for You today. [God of
Wonders by David Steen]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Seek My face at the beginning of your
day. This practice enables you to "put Me on" and
"wear Me" throughout the day. Most people put on
clothes soon after arising from bed. Similarly, the
sooner you "put Me on" by communicating with Me,
the better prepared you are for whatever comes
your way.
To "wear Me" is essentially to have My
mind: to think My thoughts. Ask the Holy Spirit to
control your thinking; be transformed by this
renewal within you. Thus you are well equipped to
face whatever people and situations I bring your
way. Clothing your mind in Me is your best
preparation for each day. This discipline brings Joy and
Peace to you and those around you. (Psa. 27:8;
Rom. 13:14; Col. 3:12) [Jesus Calling by Sarah
Young]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY
Ephesians 4:22-24 - Gods Goal: Your
Character, Not Your Comfort.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210511-0946.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
