Put on Love

Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as The Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Above all, put on love- the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15

Did you know you are holy and loved? It has nothing to do with how you feel or think about yourself. You are viewed through. Christ. What does holy mean to you? I know we can conjure up strange images of what 'holy' people should or would look like, but guess what? Holy basically means set apart, different from mainstream folk. 

We are told by Paul to 'put on compassion'. Have you ever imagined compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience to be like a garment that you would go to your wardrobe and select to 'put on'? Well then, just as you make a conscious decision to chose one garment over another you can choose compassion over hate, for example; kindness over unkindness; humility over arrogance; gentleness over rudeness; patience over impatience. Wow!

Why? These attributes help us accept one another, forgive one another, especially when we have complaints, about each other. Why? Well, Christ did this for each of us! He forgave us our sins, so therefore we should forgive the sins of others.

Above all we should 'put on' love. There is that 'put on' phrase. I can choose to 'put on love'. I wonder what it looks like! Ever looked into the eyes of a dog, one that loves you? I am currently sitting in my bed, it is cold, and my two dogs are in their bed just outside my door, looking at me. They love nothing more than to snuggle up to me but I am training them, and me, to behave like master and dog. Dogs know how to love faithfully!

Love is the perfect bond of unity. Love overcomes all.

Then comes the peace of God, controls our hearts when we love enough to be still and wait, much like my dogs.

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