Colossians 3:10-14
Thoughts from Pastor Stuart
Dive Deeper
“And have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created it— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and free, but Christ is all, and in all. 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 must you do also. In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
Colossians 3:10-14
Behind the Scenes
The Colossian church was planted in the midst of a bustling and active trade and industrial city. Influences from all over the world flowed into Colossae. Established by some of Paul’s proteges, the Colossian church eagerly accepted the message of salvation and initially flourished. But soon false teachers, religious fanatics, and heretical preachers had these early Christians questioning what was true and right.
In response to this struggle, Paul penned this letter. The message of the letter was first and foremost an accurate teaching of the true Gospel. But Paul knew that these Christians needed real and practical ways to apply the good news that they had received. They needed guidance on what it looked like to live a life that pleased the Lord.
Make it Real
Like the Colossian Christians, it’s so easy for us to be swayed and confused. Voices from every direction tell us what we should or shouldn’t do. In today’s culture, what was right before is wrong now and what was once wrong is now right. It can be incredibly confusing and hard to know what it looks like to live a God-honoring life.
That’s why I am so grateful that God did not leave us to guess at it! Instead, through the revelation and inspiration of the Bible, God has given us His very word! When the voices all around us start shouting and telling us how to live, we have a sure and true source of God’s guidance to carry us through. And boy do we need it now like never before!
We live in a culture that is divided in one way or another on just about every subject. Even in the church we find division, favoritism, and fighting. But this is the very issue that Paul wrote about in this passage. He spells out for us what it looks like to live a godly life and “put on” the new self that we have been given in Christ.
First, it looks like a choice. Notice the active command to “put on” these things. It is as if Paul is telling you to daily get dressed in the uniform of a believer. To be able to put on Christ, we have to take off self. We have to choose to let go of our old identity to lay hold of our new one. And every day (sometime multiple times a day) we have to choose to put it on. The world will do everything it can to tear it off of us. So, we have to be actively choosing it every day.
Secondly, Paul gives us some real and tangible qualities that identify this new identity. It’s as if Paul is giving us a checklist to evaluate our hearts and lives: a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, with love and unity. These things are the mark of Christ in our lives.
So, like the Colossian Christians so many centuries ago, when the world around us leaves us confused and questioning, we can stop, re-assess, and refocus our eyes and hearts on what God has already told us is true. His word becomes our compass and passages like this become our anchors. When the storms of public opinion, personal preferences, and cultural biases strike hard, we can rest easy knowing that our faith and our lives are built on the Rock who cannot fail.
Crystal Garnett
ACF Digital Discipleship Team Lead
End in Prayer
Lord,
Thank You for sending me Your truth. Help me to turn to You to define what is right and what is wrong. Teach me to focus on Your standards and to choose to put on Your truth every day.
In Jesus’ Name
Amen