This New Life

Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness,humility, gentleness, and patience, ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
-Colossians 3:12-17 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Yesterday, we looked at the things that characterize your old life. Today, I want us to focus on the things that should characterize your new life in Christ. 

Verses 12-14 say, "Therefore, God's chose 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." These things are what should be evident in our lives. Look at this list: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, acceptance, forgiveness and love. Are these found in your life, any of them? The words Paul starts off this section with teach us that these are what God wants from our lives, "Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on..." These are the things that symbolize the new person that you and I are. We are to take off anger, and put on heartfelt compassion. We are to take off sexual immorality and put on humility. Are you willing to do this?

Tomorrow, I'd like us to focus in on why we must take off our old ways, and put on the new ways of God. For now, though, review the list of what characteristics should be found in our lives, and make sure these are evident in your life. Think About It.