“As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12, NIV)
Not everyone is willing to be a child of God, one of the chosen few, a holy one of God. To be faithful, things in your life must reflect a real relationship with God in Christ. Listed above from Colossians 3:12 are several character traits that must be nurtured and strengthened in the faithful soul. Sadly, some Christians find it difficult to possess all of these character traits. Why? Because in modern times, every one of the character traits listed in Colossians 3:12 is either rebuffed by modern thinkers or rejected by modern society.
With a twinkle in his eyes, a church elder whispered to his friend at church, “Do you know what my favorite prayer is these days?” The friend shook his head in wonder. The elder whispered back with a gleam in his eye, “Lord, give me patience—and give it to me right now!” Patience, he admitted, has been the hardest virtue for him to acquire.
Colossians 3:12 lists patience as a necessary component of a faithful life. Still, for most people, even Christian people, patience does not come easy. The elder in the story above is not the only one lacking in this department! With fast food, fast shipping, cell phones at the ready, email, and more, instant gratification is the norm. Patience gets lost!
People don’t realize that an always-on, instant gratification type lifestyle is damaging to body, mind, and soul. Recent studies in human behavior have noted that without down time, there will be sleep disturbances, problems with the regulation of hormones, and more. In truth, short attention spans are the result of fast-paced twitch-style streaming and large blocks of time spent using X (Twitter) or Tik Tok. Children raised in homes where iPads, computers, and iPhones are used for hours each day (even as babysitters!) often lack study skills. Some even have difficulty reading! Many can’t even tell time on an analog clock! Where instant gratification is the norm, patience is usually lacking.
It is not just godly patience that suffers in the modern world. People living today struggle greatly with compassion. They are quick to become defensive. They object to anything that doesn’t suit their ideology. They write off whole groups of people. Just last week, I overheard a person who is liberal saying that she loves everyone. A few minutes later, I heard her say how MAGA people should be lined up on a wall and shot. I thought she had compassion for everyone? She couldn’t even perceive her lack of compassion.
As the liberal woman exhibits above, when a person lacks compassion, they often lack kindness, humility, and gentleness as well. Have you noticed this in people around you? Those who lack compassion for all of God’s children often lack the ability to be kind, humble, forgiving and more. They do not treat others with gentleness. Often, they are extremely prideful and arrogant.
At a gathering of social groups in Canada two weeks ago, a woman stood up at the microphone and complained that because she was a minority of native descent, she deserved to be heard before another person in line ahead of her who was “just white”. Shockingly, hundreds of those gathered at that meeting agreed! All lacked humility, a desired trait of the faithful.
Colossians 3:12 explains that “as God’s chosen people”, things like “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” are to be character traits that form your personality. They are not optional. They are not a goal. In fact, the scripture says that each day you are to “clothe yourself” with these traits. Just as people can see the clothes you wear without any words spoken, people should be able to see compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience without you uttering one single word! Your poise, your actions, your demeanor should exhibit them for you!
During December a few decades ago, a man named George grudgingly agreed to put up the outdoor Christmas lights for his wife. While doing the yearly chore, he grumbled. Teetering on a ladder on the porch, George hit his finger with the hammer while nailing in a support. He swore, then yelled, then complained some more. Just then, a little voice spoke from behind him, “Mister, do you always yell at the Christmas lights?”
The voice was from the new neighbor boy, only eight years old, watching George from the porch steps. George didn’t have time for the boy, so he said, “Don’t worry about me. Just get yourself back home!” Backing up a couple of steps from the porch, the boy continued to watch George for a minute, then walked back home.
The next day, George was shoveling when the neighbor boy again showed up. The boy explained that he liked playing in the snow. Then, he asked George if he thought the snow was fun. George yelled, “NO!”. Then, George again told the boy to go on home.
Over the next year, George was bothered by this neighbor boy who kept showing up at inopportune moments. However, George had also learned that the boy’s father was a soldier who died in the Iraq war. George deeply regretted all the times he told the boy to go away or go home. George began to realize that the boy needed a man in his life.
On a dreary Saturday before Christmas one year later, George was not feeling well. He decided to take a walk to clear his mind. As George walked by the neighbor boy’s home, he waved to the boy who was building a snowman. Walking on, George heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see the neighbor boy running up. The boy tugged on George’s scarf and said, “Hey, Mr. George. My school is having a Christmas program rehearsal for parents. My mom can’t come cause of work. Would you mind coming for me?” George was not expecting this conversation whatsoever. George stumbled over words but didn’t have a heart to say no. He went to the boy’s Christmas program rehearsal for parents.
George and the neighbor boy began a friendship that Christmas. It blossomed over the years. That boy had a way of helping George see the blessings in life. George became a father figure for the young boy. Their kindness toward each other grew. Their compassion blossomed.
George ended up not only being invited to that boy’s wedding fifteen years later but was the best man! I was the pastor leading the wedding. I asked the boy’s mother, “So, how did these two become so close?” After hearing the whole story, the mother confided in me, “I think God brought them together. They had a way of softening each other’s rough edges. It is a perfect example of how God uses kindness to heal souls!”
How well do you do “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”? Which is the most difficult for you? Are you a good example of these godly traits? Do they “clothe” you?
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Oh Lord my God! How often do people watch my actions? What do they see of me? What kind of example am I? I hope and pray that others see my whole demeanor as faithful!
I pray for a world that has set aside compassion and kindness. Too many have replaced these holy actions with hard-heartedness, divisiveness, and an “us vs. them” mentality. They are prejudiced against holy ways. They exhibit a lack of the desire to be loving. They are quick to judge. They are harshly unforgiving.
Jesus’ death on a cross should remind us all that good people can do evil things. It is too easy to be swayed by bias, incited by anger, sleepless with worry, or gutted by fear. I am thankful for those who rise above harshness and evil to show compassion and grace. I am thankful for those who have been influenced by Jesus enough to forgive others and exhibit gentleness.
Let your Holy Spirit fill the earth! Amen.
With a twinkle in his eyes, a church elder whispered to his friend at church, “Do you know what my favorite prayer is these days?” The friend shook his head in wonder. The elder whispered back with a gleam in his eye, “Lord, give me patience—and give it to me right now!” Patience, he admitted, has been the hardest virtue for him to acquire.
Colossians 3:12 lists patience as a necessary component of a faithful life. Still, for most people, even Christian people, patience does not come easy. The elder in the story above is not the only one lacking in this department! With fast food, fast shipping, cell phones at the ready, email, and more, instant gratification is the norm. Patience gets lost!
People don’t realize that an always-on, instant gratification type lifestyle is damaging to body, mind, and soul. Recent studies in human behavior have noted that without down time, there will be sleep disturbances, problems with the regulation of hormones, and more. In truth, short attention spans are the result of fast-paced twitch-style streaming and large blocks of time spent using X (Twitter) or Tik Tok. Children raised in homes where iPads, computers, and iPhones are used for hours each day (even as babysitters!) often lack study skills. Some even have difficulty reading! Many can’t even tell time on an analog clock! Where instant gratification is the norm, patience is usually lacking.
It is not just godly patience that suffers in the modern world. People living today struggle greatly with compassion. They are quick to become defensive. They object to anything that doesn’t suit their ideology. They write off whole groups of people. Just last week, I overheard a person who is liberal saying that she loves everyone. A few minutes later, I heard her say how MAGA people should be lined up on a wall and shot. I thought she had compassion for everyone? She couldn’t even perceive her lack of compassion.
As the liberal woman exhibits above, when a person lacks compassion, they often lack kindness, humility, and gentleness as well. Have you noticed this in people around you? Those who lack compassion for all of God’s children often lack the ability to be kind, humble, forgiving and more. They do not treat others with gentleness. Often, they are extremely prideful and arrogant.
At a gathering of social groups in Canada two weeks ago, a woman stood up at the microphone and complained that because she was a minority of native descent, she deserved to be heard before another person in line ahead of her who was “just white”. Shockingly, hundreds of those gathered at that meeting agreed! All lacked humility, a desired trait of the faithful.
Colossians 3:12 explains that “as God’s chosen people”, things like “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” are to be character traits that form your personality. They are not optional. They are not a goal. In fact, the scripture says that each day you are to “clothe yourself” with these traits. Just as people can see the clothes you wear without any words spoken, people should be able to see compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience without you uttering one single word! Your poise, your actions, your demeanor should exhibit them for you!
During December a few decades ago, a man named George grudgingly agreed to put up the outdoor Christmas lights for his wife. While doing the yearly chore, he grumbled. Teetering on a ladder on the porch, George hit his finger with the hammer while nailing in a support. He swore, then yelled, then complained some more. Just then, a little voice spoke from behind him, “Mister, do you always yell at the Christmas lights?”
The voice was from the new neighbor boy, only eight years old, watching George from the porch steps. George didn’t have time for the boy, so he said, “Don’t worry about me. Just get yourself back home!” Backing up a couple of steps from the porch, the boy continued to watch George for a minute, then walked back home.
The next day, George was shoveling when the neighbor boy again showed up. The boy explained that he liked playing in the snow. Then, he asked George if he thought the snow was fun. George yelled, “NO!”. Then, George again told the boy to go on home.
Over the next year, George was bothered by this neighbor boy who kept showing up at inopportune moments. However, George had also learned that the boy’s father was a soldier who died in the Iraq war. George deeply regretted all the times he told the boy to go away or go home. George began to realize that the boy needed a man in his life.
On a dreary Saturday before Christmas one year later, George was not feeling well. He decided to take a walk to clear his mind. As George walked by the neighbor boy’s home, he waved to the boy who was building a snowman. Walking on, George heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see the neighbor boy running up. The boy tugged on George’s scarf and said, “Hey, Mr. George. My school is having a Christmas program rehearsal for parents. My mom can’t come cause of work. Would you mind coming for me?” George was not expecting this conversation whatsoever. George stumbled over words but didn’t have a heart to say no. He went to the boy’s Christmas program rehearsal for parents.
George and the neighbor boy began a friendship that Christmas. It blossomed over the years. That boy had a way of helping George see the blessings in life. George became a father figure for the young boy. Their kindness toward each other grew. Their compassion blossomed.
George ended up not only being invited to that boy’s wedding fifteen years later but was the best man! I was the pastor leading the wedding. I asked the boy’s mother, “So, how did these two become so close?” After hearing the whole story, the mother confided in me, “I think God brought them together. They had a way of softening each other’s rough edges. It is a perfect example of how God uses kindness to heal souls!”
How well do you do “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”? Which is the most difficult for you? Are you a good example of these godly traits? Do they “clothe” you?
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Oh Lord my God! How often do people watch my actions? What do they see of me? What kind of example am I? I hope and pray that others see my whole demeanor as faithful!
I pray for a world that has set aside compassion and kindness. Too many have replaced these holy actions with hard-heartedness, divisiveness, and an “us vs. them” mentality. They are prejudiced against holy ways. They exhibit a lack of the desire to be loving. They are quick to judge. They are harshly unforgiving.
Jesus’ death on a cross should remind us all that good people can do evil things. It is too easy to be swayed by bias, incited by anger, sleepless with worry, or gutted by fear. I am thankful for those who rise above harshness and evil to show compassion and grace. I am thankful for those who have been influenced by Jesus enough to forgive others and exhibit gentleness.
Let your Holy Spirit fill the earth! Amen.