Devotional Messages

Colossians 3:12-17  – As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.  Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with 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 the one body. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs 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. (NRSV)

Letting the words of Christ dwell within us means letting the words Jesus has spoken make a home in your heart. It means you plant the seed, water it, care for it, and hope it will grow. Grow from inside you and impact the way you live and interact with others. As children of God, through Jesus, we have been modeled compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience in word and action. And with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can go out and live as Christ did.

These gifts bind all things together in "perfect harmony." This phrase sounds like nothing wrong will happen again, and everything and everyone will get along. However, the word "perfect" used here is more along the lines of spiritual perfection and maturity. Love helps you understand others and situations like never before; it provides insight, wisdom, and truth.

We are shown and provided all of these items from God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and the author notes we should be grateful, which is the ability to be content and understand our current circumstances in ways that don't make sense. Clothe yourself in love, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, and be confident to share the good news with all so that they too can experience God's goodness and love.

Collect for the Week – God of Love, who provides and sustains, grant that we remember to clothe ourselves with your gifts so that we may confidently share your love and grace to all we encounter. Through Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit, Amen.