Text: 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.
Devotional Thoughts and Commentary:
In this section, Paul describes what a Christian should be doing. The set of characteristics described in verse 12 are things that the Christian is to "put on" or begin doing to incorporate into our way of life. Notice in verse 13 that we are commanded to forgive our fellow Christians "as Christ forgave you." He bore all of our sins, though great in number and the most grievous things possible, so we should willingly and joyfully forgive our fellow Christians no matter what they have done to us (assuming they actually ask forgiveness). There is no limit to this.
I think verse 14 is one of the clearest articulations of a crucial New Testament principle- love, as in Matthew 22:37-39 (the greatest commandments according to Jesus). Love toward others is overarching. If one always acts in love towards others, that person really doesn't have to worry about following the nitty gritty rules of behavior. Rather than the system of the law in the Old Testament, the New Testament generally lays down broad principles of behavior. Certainly there are details and specifics in what Christians are and are not supposed to do; however, the purpose is to show us how to please God in our lives. How could we properly show our love for God if we don't know what He wants? Love is that which holds together and completes all of the other virtues ("bond of perfection").
Literally from verse 15, let the peace that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as one's Savior be the umpire of our lives. If we let this peace surround everything in our heart and mind, nothing can dissuade our joy or spiritual walk.
I am not going to go deep into Christian music here, but the idea conveyed is that a primary purpose for it is to teach or remind us of truth from the Bible. If the lyrics to our songs don't accomplish this, then we need to find some that do because this is a command.
Echoing 1 Corinthians 10:31, the Christian is again reminded in verse 17 to live every aspect of their life for God's glory and in a way that reflects Jesus Christ.
Application(s):
Don't delay and make an active choice to start putting on the Christian virtues commanded here.
Focus on loving other Christians. This guiding attitude will govern our actions such that they generally conform to what God expects in our relationships.
Let the peace of God rule in your heart and mind. If you are already a true Christian, then you have the peace there right now. However, you need to relax through studying God's Word, meditating on His promises, and praying so that you can have this peace.
Live every aspect of your life for God's glory and in a way that reflects Jesus Christ.
Other Studies from Colossians
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