Scripture:
Colossians 3:12-17 NKJV
[12] Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; [13] bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. [14] But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. [15] And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. [17] And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Observation:
The letter to Colossia is another short letter from Paul to the church located there. The main focus of the letter was to get the supremacy of Jesus Christ across to the church and to shoot down any false teaching. Most bible scrollers believe he wrote it while in prison. Now think about that just a little bit. Look at where we pick up in the letter. His heart is still poised towards the love of Christ. Calling his readers to live and act in the same manner that Jesus Christ did. Let’s look at his language in verses 12 and 13 as he calls his readers to remember that they are called to be like Christ. “Therefore as the elect of GOD, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you must also do. There is no way to get around that. Let’s look at how Christ forgave. As men were beating HIM, pulling HIS beard from HIS face, and nailing HIM to a cross… HIS words were, forgive them Father for they know not what they do. Paul was in prison looking at possible execution for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and telling his readers to forgive just like Christ forgave. I believe what he was writing at the time was driven by the Holy Spirit. He knew that GOD was absolutely in control, and no matter the outcome, GOD knew what HE was doing. Looking at verses 14 and 15 would give us a clear picture of that. As we all know, the bible tells us and has shown us that LOVE covers a multitude of sins, and Paul tells us to put on love and then talks about the peace of GOD. I believe that Paul was at peace with GOD, knowing that HE was ultimately in control no matter what happened to him. His life would speak of the grace and mercy that Christ showed on the cross and that Paul himself got to see Stephen exhibit as he was being stoned to death while Paul approved by holding the coats of the men who did it. Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do. Paul’s life was a picture of what a true encounter with Christ can do. Verses 16 and 17 close our observation of the scripture out today. Let the words of Christ dwell in you richly. Write them on your heart. Allow them to make your decisions for you and whatever you do in word and deed let it be done for GOD’S glory.
Application:
Do you think you have a right to be mad? Have you been wronged? Has someone done something that has offended you? Offense is one of the main ways the enemy separates people whom GOD has brought together. It’s how he gets his little toe in the door. He knows that if he can get you to hold something against your brother, that Christ has already forgiven, then pride can take its full effect. We have to give others the same grace and mercy we have been given. We have to let the words of Jesus Christ ring in our ears over and over again. We have to let them teach us so that we can teach others. Believe me when I tell you that I have things going on in my life that I would love to get mad about. Things that I want to give people peace of mind over. To speak my opinion would do nothing. It would only leave people wounded and broken… and honestly, I’m done with that. My name is not Jabez. I do not want to cause pain. I want the LORD to bless what HE has put me over. Bless it and increase it. I want HIS words to ring in my ears. To be written on my heart. I want to act out of love and forget about my right to be mad. My heart, my emotions, and my ways will lead me astray. When I act on what I think is right, I am almost always going to act wrong. We have to be willing to let go of our rights. The right to be mad, the right to get offended, the right to strike back, it’s not up to us. Vengeance is mine sayth the LORD I will repay. When we let the words of Christ dwell in you richly. To me, that means I have to forgive no matter what has been done. My rights are no more… No one has treated me like HE has been treated… no one has pulled my hair from my face…. no one has nailed me to a cross… and even if they did… HIS words, just like Stephen’s words, would have to ring in my ears. You can NOT battle evil with more evil. It will never work. Mercy grace and forgiveness have to be what lead the decisions of your heart. Let GOD’S word lead your life. Let HIM have complete control. Allowing your emotions to make your decisions will only leave you empty and all alone. It’s not up to you. It’s up to GOD. Stop getting in HIS way. You honestly don’t know what exactly HE is doing. Yes, it may be hard. You may have to swallow your pride. You may have to sit down and shut up and let HIM do HIS thing. Control is an illusion. A man plans his path, but GOD guides his footsteps. You will end up where HE wants you. The level of struggle it takes to get you there is entirely up to you. Let the bible dwell in you act on what it says, not what you think. Let love be your banner.
Prayer:
Father, you know the path you want us on. We may not be able to see it clearly because we are blinded by our emotions. Help us to set down what we may want and pick up what you have for us. Wrote your word on our hearts. We want to act on what it says. Not what we think. This life that you have given us. We pledge to live for you. It it not our own. Help us to set our emotions aside when making decisions that can affect the lives of those you have placed us around. They may not know what they do, and if we make a decision based on our pride because it has been wounded, we will cause more damage. Set aside who we were and let us act out of love and nothing else. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, amen.