Allow me to ask a personal question not just of you, but also of myself. Are we in Jesus Christ? I pray that our faith is real and more and more realized by the great priority we place upon our relation to our Lord. With this sobering thought, how often do we consider how incredibly blessed we are to be in Jesus Christ? There are many today who have not even heard the Word of God, and many that upon hearing it thought it to be either foolishness or inconsequential. They miss the infinite value of what is entering their ears. There are many places to turn in God’s Word where we read of the heart of joy and gratitude expressed by those who have their heart opened to God’s truth. One of those passages doesn’t just speak of gratitude but expresses it by means of joy seen in actions and reactions. Paul says this, “So as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Col. 2:12-15).

We are, by our incredible undeserving appointment of God, called upon to rejoice by living out our new redeemed life under a glorious Master with a new outlook that is lovely by description.  We are blessed to have a set apart heart! This new position and life in Christ places us into a “put off” and “put on” calling. Paul addressed what to “put off” in the previous verses before our text. These are ugly things and sinful behaviors by those who do not know Jesus Christ. But for us who are in Him he says, “Put on a heart of compassion.” Using the word heart, he appropriately reminds us that the work of God is an inside change. By compassion is meant to show a sense of pity, mercy, and sympathy toward others. Closely associated with and integrated into compassion is kindness and humility. He then adds gentleness, which is a willingness to suffer personal injury for the cause of Christ. These characteristics are commanded for the recipients of God’s grace who, also out of a sense of gratitude, are to put self aside in wise obedience and understanding in order to help others know the Lord.

Sadly, in my lifetime in church I have seen just the opposite occur. I could not count the number of times I have seen people fall out with one another. Sometimes it is merely personalities that clash, or viewpoints on things that matter little if at all. These kinds of things are rarely recognized as contrary to the grateful actions commanded of our God in His Word. The last action Paul presents in our text as necessary is patience. This means not being overpowered by our emotions when offended or disagreeing with others. Even insults and personal ill-treatment should not move a thankful obedient person to engage in forms of vengeance or retaliation. Instead, Paul says, “Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (Col. 2:13).

For those who are filled with gratitude by their relationship with God, Paul then says, “Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity” (Col. 2:14). Consider how all these commands appropriately fit together. If we are so filled in our hearts with the true realization of being purchased out of darkness and hell to be children of God, how could we become what we consider as victims of minor offenses from others? The last emphasis of this passage is, “And be thankful!” (Col. 2:15). Consider the impossibility of falling into the trap of being at odds with others if we are doing what Paul commands and simply following the logic he has given to the Colossian church.

A new heart of love and thankfulness with the attributes described will not be derailed by the situations or words coming from others. We should see the beauty of God’s direction to us here. Using a quote from an old saint, with a slight variance, “We should never sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.” The point is that our relationship with God and His wise instruction to us is far larger than anything else temporarily occurring in our lives. Let us all be reminded that to be a Christian is to be different. Our Lord spoke of it as being an overcomer. Our overcoming is not just a theory, but a beautiful testimony of the work of God in our lives before others. It is a work that gives us the ability to recognize the wisdom and power of God’s Word and put into practice the richness of what He says in our everyday situations. Oh, how wonderful are the words of Scripture to all who belong to Him!