Joel Engle

Colossians 3:12

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience…

There is a new way to live as a Christian.  We are now chosen by God, transformed from a sinner to a “holy one” and forever loved by God the Father Himself.  This is the attitude and reality that must posses our thinking and seep deeply into our minds each day.  We must choose to put these “nuclear powered” spiritual truths into our worldview.

As we start thinking this way, we must also choose to act in a way the reflects who we are.  We are loved so we should love.  We are holy so we should act in holy ways.  Of course, we also have the supernatural power of Christ living in us to energize our new identity.  However, we still must choose.  

Paul uses the most simple analogy to help us.  ”Put on” the clothes of Christ.  Just like we put on our clothes each day we are to put on Christ and the specific characteristics of Christ.  

We must put on the coat of compassion.  We slip our arms through the sleeves of the spiritual jacket when our loved ones and co-workers repeat the same frustrating behavioral patterns each day.

We must put on the cap of kindness.  Kindness is not a natural attribute of human behavior.  It is a fruit of the Spirit.  As followers of Christ, we choose kindness in response to anger, rudeness or harshness.  

We must lace up our shoes with lowliness.  Not looking to be the star or “top dog” as we used to say in Oklahoma.  We must choose to allow others to take the spotlight and rest in the love and security of Christ in Us.  

We must put on meekness.  As we choose to be gentle with people who are slower than us or different than us, Christ begins to shine.  

We must put on the pants of patience.  We have to endure the slowness of spiritual maturity.  Learning how to let Christ’s patience overcome our flesh patterns of instant gratification takes a long time.  But it is worth the wait.

I hope this give us all a little TGIF spiritual boost!

Joel