The Word of God for wisdom:
Proverbs 24:28-29 (HCSB)
28 Don't testify against your neighbor without cause. Don't deceive with your lips.
29 Don't say, "I'll do to him what he did to me; I'll repay the man for what he has done."
The Word of God for inspiration:
Psalm 78:1 (HCSB)
1 My people, hear my instruction; listen to what I say.
Psalm 78:72 (HCSB)
72 He shepherded them with a pure heart and guided them with his skillful hands.
The Word of God for encouragement:
Colossians 3:12-17 (HCSB)
12 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 indeed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
My observation:
How can we live as believers and have the most impact for good in this world? God made us for the purpose of being able to live in relationship with him, and with one another. Sin marred the plan, but God, in grace, sent his only begotten son, Jesus, to rescue us from our fallen state.
Paul describes how we should live as grace bought children of God. As children of God, then we should live in a manner that demonstrates the authenticity of our faith.
Love for God, and love for one another should be the mark of every child of God. People should recognize us by the clothes that we wear.
Are you wearing the grace clothes that Paul describes in our focal passage? Love is a verb; love is something that you do. Love begins at home. Read the rest of the chapter to see how to get started on this journey of loving one another (Colossians 3:18 – 4:1).
John 13:35 (HCSB)
35 By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
My prayer:
Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that we will examine our lives to see if we have put on the things that the Apostle Paul admonished the people in the church at Colossae to put on. Father, help us to live like people who have been bought with a great price. Lord, may we glorify you by the way we relate to you, and by the way that we relate to one another in love. In Jesus name, Amen.
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Colossians 2:9-10 (HCSB)
9 For the entire fullness of God's nature dwells bodily in Christ,
10 and you have been filled by Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
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