Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
Colossians 3:12-17 NLT
Clothes are part of how we interact with the world: our clothes are part of our appearance, and clothes can change how we feel (think of “dressing up”). These verses talk about being clothed in the apparel of heaven. Bible scholars think that early Christians, when they were baptized, took off old clothing, entered the water, then were dressed in new clothing (probably a white robe). This was symbolic of leaving the old life, attitude, and actions behind, while putting on the new life of Christ. We can clothe ourselves with gentleness, mercy, kindness, humility, and patience. Jesus freely offers us all of this “clothing.” What virtues do you need to add to your wardrobe?
We are forgiven by God, and His forgiveness changes everything. We can forgive others and be patient with each other's faults. It is sometimes hard to accept that God has fully forgiven us, hard sometimes to let go of guilt and shame. It is even harder to live out forgiveness, being patient with the faults of others and forgiving them in love. God wants us to have peace, even if it sometimes takes hard work. Avoiding the issues won't solve them. Lay down your guilt and grudges and live a life of forgiveness.
What grudges do you need to release and forgive?
