Colossians 3:12, NKJV

We are God’s elect, holy and beloved. He has called us and set us apart for His purpose. Therefore, we are commanded to put off our disobedient, onery ways of the flesh, and walk in His ways. We must clothe ourselves in a manner that honors Christ. He is the One who died on the cross for our sins so that we might live for righteousness. Paul encouraged believers in verse 12 to “put on” a series of Christian traits. These traits show that you have been “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2b). 

Put on tender mercies and kindness; that is, put on a heart of compassion (AMP) and goodness. Stop and think about it. Whose lovingkindness and tender mercies have given us existence? It was God’s. Who loved us so that while we were still sinners sent His only begotten Son to die for us, granting us eternal life if we believe in Him? God did. Jesus is the ultimate example of humility; He showed us how not to be selfish but humble believers. If you are selfish, that’s the old man. The new, redeemed man is commanded to not do anything through selfish ambition or conceit but clothe themselves with humility and consider others better than yourself (Philippians 2:3). So, the next time you decide to give someone a piece of your mind, remember, you have faults too, and others don’t know about them. Conduct yourself today as a child of the King – holy and beloved. Give God a hand clap and shout, “Hallelujah!” 

 

Colossians 3:10-14, NKJV

Paul continues to encourage the Colossians to live so that their lives will reflect that they are risen with Christ. They have put off the old man and put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him (v.10). Because they are renewed in the spirit of their mind, believers are to always present themselves as the righteous and the true holy. God does not show partiality; therefore, His chosen people, His church, which is under the headship of Christ, must not show partiality due to differences in race, nationality, sex, belief, community, socio-economic status, and so on. “… Christ is all and in all;” (v.11b), and nothing else is above Him.

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering (v.12); 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 (v.13). But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (v.14).

Today, remember this, Elect of God. According to Scripture, you are God’s chosen people. One day you made a conscious decision to live in righteousness and true holiness after the likeness of Christ. So, accept the charge to obey the series of commands set forth in verses 12-14 and live holy. Hallelujah! Give God glory!

 

Colossians 3:5-11, NKJV 

In verses 5-7 believers are commanded to put to death their sinful and earthly members of idolatry. Before they became children of God, they walked in the idolatrous desires of their flesh, which led to God’s wrath coming upon the sons of disobedience. Now that they are new creatures in Christ, if they walk in the Spirit, they will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. They can live their best lives ever – enriched and victorious – with the blessed promise of living forever.

Paul told the Colossians: “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth” (v.8). “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds” (v.9). He encouraged them to stop behaviors that reflected their old way of life and let their daily walk reflect who they are as new creatures in Christ. Since God gave us the ability to be angry, use it for what is right and righteous but do not sin. In Matthew Jesus turned over tables of money changers and those selling doves in the Temple. He said that His house was a house of prayer; they were using it as a den of thieves.

They have put off the old man “and put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (v.10). Verse 11  declared: “Christ is all and in all;” nothing else is above Him. Live every day so God will be glorified. 

How many of you have ever done everything commanded of you without ever complaining or making a fuss about it? Recall that God delivered the children of Israel out of bondage from Egypt. They complained that Moses brought them in the wilderness to die and would rather be back in bondage where they had food. How ungrateful they were!

Here Paul commanded the Philippians to “do all things without complaining and arguing” (v.14). “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7b). If believers obeyed God’s purpose for their lives without mumbling and grumbling, Paul said that they may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault, in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world (v.15, AMP). Jesus said: “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed and placed and purposefully planted you, so that you would go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit will remain and be lasting…” (John 15:16, AMP). Christians can’t live “anyhow” like the unbelieving world. They must be blameless and sincere so that they will shine as lights “to the glory and praise of God” (1:10b).

Do all things without bumbling and grumbling, holding fast the word of life, Paul said, so that he may rejoice in the day of Christ that he has not run in vain or labored in vain (v.16). Are you holding fast the word of life, Jesus Christ, so that when He comes, you can declare with joy that your race has not been in vain?

Give God a hand clap and shout, “Hallelujah!”

Philippians 2:12-13, NKJV

While Paul was in jail in Rome, he wrote this letter to his Christian friends at Philippi. He affectionately called them “my beloved” (v. 12a). Paul never stopped praying for these saints, making requests for them with joy for he was confident that “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (1:4-6). He urged the Philippian Christians to live humbly like Christ; He suffered and gave His life on the cross for sinners, and God has highly exalted Him (vv. 1-11). 

Paul urged the Philippians, just as they were always obedient in his presence, but now much more in his absence, to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling (v.12). Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words” says: work out your own salvation “refers especially to freedom from strife and vainglory.” Strife and vainglory are selfish, disruptive works of the flesh. Exercise the faith that God has given you; grow spiritually and produce fruit of the Spirit which endures to everlasting life. Paul told them to work out their salvation with “fear and trembling.” Christians are expected to respect and reverence God and not go contrary to His will for their lives. Our responsibility is to align our lives with the work of God to fulfill the purpose that He has given us. “It is God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” (v.13).

Give God praise!