Dec. 29, 2024

“New Garments”

Colossians 3:12-17

The apostle Paul, speaks directly to our hearts, urging us to embrace virtues that reflect the very nature of Christ. It's a call to a lifestyle that mirrors the divine, a lifestyle that is compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, patient, forgiving, loving, peaceful, and thankful. A person adorned with these virtues is not easily swayed by the winds of adversity or the storms of life. Paul, encourages us to clothe ourselves with virtues that reflect the divine nature of God. This is not a physical dressing, but a spiritual one. It's about adorning our character with qualities that mirror the character of God. In essence, dressing in divine manner is about being the hands and feet of Jesus, reaching out to those in need, comforting the hurting, and sharing the love of God with everyone we meet. Compassion is an action. It's not just about seeing the pain of others, but about doing something to alleviate that pain. Compassion is a virtue that we embody in our actions.  The love of Christ is not something to be put off until tomorrow. It's something to be lived out today. The love of Christ is not just about what we do. It's also about who we become. We are God's chosen people, dearly loved and called to live a life that reflects His goodness and love. We're encouraged to dress ourselves in divine manner, not just on Sundays, but every day of the week. It's not always easy, but remember, we're not doing it in our own strength. God's grace is sufficient for us. His power is made perfect in our weakness.

Questions:

1.    What are the virtues that Paul discusses in our reading?

2.    How are we to put on Christ?

3.    When should we put on the Love of Christ?