Week 5, Day 32 - The Wardrobe

"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 whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."  Colossians 3:12-14

REFLECT

By the time you read this I will have performed a wedding ceremony on May 20. I can picture the bride standing there in her pure white satiny dress and the groom standing beside her, not looking like he really wants to be in a tux. I read these words from Colossians 3 about getting "dressed up," knowing these three verses give the formula for a healthy marriage. It's all about love, and with that comes forgiveness.

Forgiveness is something "God's people" extend. Why? Because we are "holy" (that is set apart for God's purposes), and because we are "dearly loved." You and I are called to a higher plane of existence. The voice of a forgiving God has called us to a new life. He's wrapped His loving arms around us. Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, let go of all the insults and acts of disobedience of our lives. In view of such magnificent, unconditional love how dare we be stingy with forgiveness!

Jesus clothes us with a certain kind of spiritual "clothing." It is what people see on the outside, but it comes from the inside where the Holy Spirit intersects with our core being. This is not a costume, this is our wardrobe: compassion (the raw instinct of caring), kindness (responding to the real needs of others), humility (throwing personal pride to the wind), and gentleness (understanding how people operate), and patience (being willing to wait). What an amazing combination! All dressed up and everywhere to go!

Love "binds" (these virtues) all together." We don't need to work hard to squeeze a drop of compassion out of our hearts or do a lot of research in the history and methods of kindness. If love is our highest motive, as Jesus said, "streams of living water" will flow freely from us.

Surrounded by Christ's light, bathed in His forgiveness, why would anyone want to hold onto resentment or anger: to keep a person indebted to us; help us feel more in control? It's time to give that up; time to release.

MAKE IT REAL

Write down words on a piece of paper and carry them in your pocket today: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Repeat them to yourself when you find yourself in a trying situation, whether it's in a traffic jam, with a frustrating co-worker, or kids who are driving you nuts!

Day 33