“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another, if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
- Colossians 3:12-14 -

This whole new wardrobe of Christly possibilities (compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience) is a wonderful promise. We can be clothed with qualities that resonate with the fruit of the Spirit.

Compassion heads the list, for it is a peculiarly Christian word of deep sensitivity and tenderness toward those who are suffering. Nobody has modeled this like Jesus did. It is accompanied by kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. These Christly qualities radiate beauty and build relationships. Practically, they result in not only being able to bear with problem people but to forgive them for the problems they cause us. Hanging in the wardrobe as an overcoat over all these virtues is love, which uniquely sums up Christian ethics. Putting on these qualities is essential for us to live in peace and grow together, learning more of Christ’s word (v 15). The quickest way to destroy unity and peace is to act in ways opposite to this list. Unkindness, pride, harshness, and impatience destroy relationships at a stroke.

I believe that one of the tasks of a daily quiet time with the Lord involves choosing Christly clothes for the day ahead.

Prayer: Mighty God, my prayer today is that you will transform me so that my life will demonstrate the difference that Jesus Christ can make in a life.