April 4, 2022

THE ELECT OF GOD

Colossians 3:12-17

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 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. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 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. 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.

Personal Challenge

All have been called by God to believe in His Son and to receive Jesus as their Lord, but not all have responded to that call. Those who have are His elect, His holy and beloved children. And with that response comes a responsibility to live His way. What is that way? Putting on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, and longsuffering with those that God brings into our lives. We are to bear with one another, forgiving them, letting go of our complaints against each other in that forgiveness. In all that we do, we are to put on love. We are to live our lives with the peace of God ruling our hearts being thankful. We have the word of Christ dwelling in us, giving us His riches. In His wisdom, not ours, we are to be teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with grace in our hearts. And finally, whatever we do in word or deed, we are doing it in the name of our Lord, giving thanks to God the Father through Christ. If this is not happening in our lives, then maybe it is time to do a heart check to see if we really did respond to His call or have we been just playing at being His follower. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!