COLOSSIANS 3:12-17
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, to it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through him.
I REMEMBER A MOVIE MY WIFE AND I TOOK IN A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. IT WAS BILLED AS A GREAT ROMANCE; AND FOR AN HOUR AND FORTY MINUTES IT WAS JUST THAT. THE HERO AND HEROINE FELL MADLY IN LOVE. ONLY ONCE HE GOT THEM THERE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE PLAYWRIGHT DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THEM. IN THE LAST TEN MINUTES THAT GREAT ROMANTIC THEME COLLAPSED IN A VERY UNSATISFACTORY ENDING. THAT GREAT LOVE NEVER GOT OFF THE GROUND.
AS I LOOK AROUND AT WHAT IS WRITTEN THESE DAYS, I’M CONVINCED THAT NOBODY TODAY KNOWS MUCH ABOUT LOVE. OH, THEY ARE GOOD AT DESCRIBING THE FAILURE OF RELATIONSHIPS, BUT NOT THE SUCCESS; NOT THE SUSTAINED COMMITTED GROWING LOVE THAT MAKES LIFE WORTH LIVING.
OUR LITERATURE SADLY REFLECTS SOUR CULTURE. MOST OF US KNOW HOW TO BEGIN RELATIONSHIPS. PEOPLE ARE MARRYING MORE THAN EVER, SOME FOR THE SECOND OR THIRD TIME. WE ARE VERY GOOD AT FALLING IN LOVE, BUT STAYING THERE, MAKING OUR RELATIONSHIPS WORK? SO MANY I KNOW GO FROM ONE BROKEN RELATIONSHIP TO THE NEXT; ALWAYS SEEKING NEVER FINDING LOVE FOR VERY LONG.
I REMEMBER STANDING NEXT TO MY EIGHTY-SEVEN YEAR OLD GRANDFATHER AND BURYING HIS NINETY-ONE YEAR OLD WIFE. SIXTY-TWO YEARS THEY WERE MARRIED. THEIR RELATIONSHIP WASN’T, “AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.” AT NINETY THEY FOUGHT ABOUT THE SAME THINGS THEY FOUGHT ABOUT AT THIRTY, ONLY HAD MORE FUN DOING SO. HOWEVER, THEY HAD A LOVE THAT GREW EACH DAY OF THOSE SIXTY-TWO YEARS. STANDING BY THE GRAVE AFTER EVERYONE STEPPED BACK FOR A MOMENT, MY GRANDFATHER SAID TO ME, “BRENT, IN ALL THOSE YEARS THE BEST, BY FAR THE CLOSEST TIME YOUR GRANDMOTHER AND I HAD TOGETHER WAS THESE LAST SIX MONTHS,” AND GRANDMA WAS DYING.
I LOOK AT MY GRANDPARENTS AND LAUGH AT THOSE WHO SAY LOVE IS FOR THE YOUNG. OUR CULTURE IS SO MESSED UP. IT DOESN’T KNOW WHAT LOVE IS OR HOW TO GROW IT. MY GRANDPARENTS KNEW, BUT THEN THEY’D WALKED WITH JESUS FOR THREE-QUARTERS OF A CENTURY AND THEY LEARNED ABOUT LOVE FROM HIM.
PAUL, THE APOSTLE, LEARNED ABOUT LOVE FROM JESUS. IN THESE VERSES BEFORE US HE TEACHES US HOW TO LOVE LIKE JESUS. TO LEARN THESE LESSONS IS TO LOVE WITH THE SAME EFFECTIVE POWER AND ENDURING CONSISTENCY. SO WHAT DOES PAUL TELL US TO DO?
- WE, FIRST, ARE TO PUT ON LOVE. (12-14).
THE IMAGES PAUL USES ARE INSIGHTFUL. WE ARE TO CLOTHE OURSELVES WITH A FIVE-FOLD LOVE: WITH COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS AND PATIENCE. NOW THE CLOTHING WE WEAR SAYS ALOT ABOUT THE KIND OF PEOPLE WE ARE. PEOPLE LOOK AT HOW WE DRESS AND MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE KIND OF PERSONS WE ARE. IF I OFFICIATED AT THIS WEDDING IN AN ALOHA SHIRT AND LIEDERHOSEN YOU WOULD MAKE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE KIND OF PASTOR I AM. CLOTHING IS A VISIBLE EXPRESSION.
IF WE ARE CHRISTIANS THERE IS A UNIFORM WE WEAR AND THAT UNIFORM IS LOVE. OTHERS LOOK AT US AND SEE COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS AND PATIENCE. VERSE TEN ABOVE SAYS, “SINCE YOU HAVE PUT ON A NEW SELF WHICH IS BEING RENEWED IN THE IMAGE OF ITS CREATOR — THEREFORE CLOTHE YOURSELVES (VERSE 12) (VERSE 14) PUT ON LOVE. THIS FIVE-FOLD LOVE IS TO BE THE OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF AN INWARD CHANGE. LOVE IS THE GARMENT THAT BEFITS OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.
THIS LOVE IS IDENTICAL TO THE LOVE WE SEE IN JESUS FOR:
1) HE HAD COMPASSION, EVEN AT THE END OF AN EXHAUSTING DAY. TIRED AND DESPERATELY NEEDING REST, BUT HE SAW THAT THE CROWD WHICH CAME TO HIM WERE LIKE SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD, SO HE HAD COMPASSION ON THEM AND FEED THEM THAT DAY WITH THE WORD OF GOD AND WITH FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISH.
2) HE WAS KIND, NOT JUDGMENTAL, EVEN TO A WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY SAYING, “NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU. GO AND SIN NO MORE.”
3) HUMBLING HIMSELF ON THE NIGHT OF HIS ARREST, HE TOOK A BASIN AND A TOWEL AND WASHED THE FEET OF THOSE WHO WOULD LATER BETRAY DESERT AND DENY HIM.
4) HE HAD A GENTLENESS THAT BROUGHT EVEN LITTLE CHILDREN TO HIM UNAFRAID.
5) AND HE PATIENTLY PERSEVERED TO THE SHEDDING OF HIS LAST DROP OF BLOOD BENEATH THE CROSS.
TO CLOTHE OURSELVES IN LOVE IS TO RELATE TO EACH OTHER AS JESUS DID. THIS LOVE IS TO BE SO MUCH A PART OF OUR LIVES THAT IT IS THE CONSTANT GARMENT WE WEAR.
NOW THIS LOVE HAS A CONTEXT. IT CANNOT BE DIVORCED FROM THE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES. NOTICE THAT EACH OF THESE FIVE VIRTUES INVOLVES DOING SOMETHING FOR OTHERS. SUCH LOVE IS ACTIVE. WE DO LOVE.
PAUL WRITES (12-13). THIS LOVE WORKS ITSELF OUT AS WE BEAR WITH AND FORGIVE EACH OTHER. TOLERANCE AND FORGIVENESS ARE THE CARDINAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCH LOVE. LET’S FACE IT. NONE OF US IS SO PLEASANT AND EVEN-KEELED THAT OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS NEVER HAVE TO BEAR WITH US AND FORGIVE US…EXCEPT ONE MAN I KNEW.
IT SEEMS A PREACHER WAS WAXING ELOQUENTLY ONE SUNDAY ON THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN. (MUST HAVE BEEN A PRESBYTERIAN) HE WAS MAKING THE POINT THAT NO ONE WAS PERFECT. A BIT CARRIED AWAY, HE POINTED HIS FINGER OUT INTO THE CONGREGATION AND SAID, “ARE ANY OF YOU PERFECT? IF YOU ARE, STAND UP.” A MAN IN THE BACK ROW STOOD UP. AFTER HE REGAINED HIS COMPOSURE, THE PASTOR ASKED, “TELL ME SIR, ARE YOU PERFECT?”
THE MAN LOOKED QUITE SURPRISED, “ME, PERFECT? GOODNESS NO. I’M STANDING FOR MY WIFE’S FIRST HUSBAND.”
ASIDE FROM THAT FIRST HUSBAND WE ALL NEED BORNE WITH AND FORGIVEN. AND THOSE WE LOVE NEED IT FROM US! IT’S AS WE STRIVE TO GIVE AND RECEIVE FORGIVENESS THAT OUR LOVE BECOMES REAL. THEN AND ONLY THEN CAN WE SAY WE HAVE PUT ON LOVE.
DAD, YOU PUT ON LOVE EACH TIME YOU COME HOME FROM WORK, TIRED AND USED UP, WANTING ONLY TO LOSE YOURSELF IN THE PAPER; BUT YOU TAKE TIME TO TUNE IN TO MOM AND THE DAY SHE’S HAD. MOM, YOU PUT ON LOVE EVERY TIME DAD COMES HOME AND YOU REFRAIN FROM DUMPING YOUR DAY LOAD OF FRUSTRATIONS ON HIM THE MINUTE HE WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR.
SUCH LOVE ISN’T EASY, BUT IT’S ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. IT BINDS US TOGETHER IN PERFECT UNITY. IT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SWEET, CLOSE EVENING TOGETHER. OR TWO HURTING PEOPLE, SITTING IN THE SAME ROOM BUT MILES APART. IT’S THE UNITY FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST. IT BINDS US TOGETHER IN SUCH A WAY THAT NOTHING CAN DRIVE US APART.
SO, THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE PUT ON LOVE.
- WE CANNOT PUT ON LOVE UNTIL THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULES IN OUR HEARTS. THIS IS OUR SECOND CONSIDERATION. (15).
HAVING CALLED US TO PUT ON LOVE, PAUL STEPS BACK AND ADMONISHES US TO LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST RULE IN OUR HEARTS. HE KNOWS THAT ONLY AS WE EXPERIENCE THE PEACE OF JESUS CAN WE LOVE LIKE JESUS.
SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR CHRIST’S PEACE TO RULE IN OUR HEARTS? THE WORD FOR RULE HERE IS INTERESTING. IT MEANS TO ACT AS A UMPIRE IN A CONTEST.
I REMEMBER AND OLD WILLIAM BENDIX MOVIE CALLED, “KILL THE UMP.” IT IS THE STORY OF A BASEBALL ADDICT. WHAT HE LOVES MOST ABOUT THE GAME IS ARGUING WITH THE UMPIRE. SO MUCH DOES BENDIX LOVE BASEBALL THAT HE IS ALWAYS LOSING HIS JOB BY SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME AT THE BALL PARK. HE SOLVES HIS VOCATIONAL DILEMMA BY DECIDING TO BECOME AND UMPIRE. HE IS SO ARGUMENTATIVE THAT THEY THROW HIM OUT OF UMPIRE SCHOOL. IT’S THE CRISIS OF THE MOVIE. HERE’S BENDIX, TATTERED SUITCASE IN HAND, SLOWLY WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALK. HE COMES ACROSS A GROUP OF BOYS IN A SANDLOT ARGUING OVER A CLOSE PLAY AT SECOND BASE. BENDIX STEPS IN AND SETTLES THE ARGUMENT. THE BOYS ASK HIM TO STAY AND UMPIRE THE GAME. AT THE END OF THE GAME ALL THE BOYS CROWD AROUND HIM AND THANK HIM FOR UMPIRING THEIR GAME. THEY TELL HIM IT IS THE BEST, MOST FUN GAME THEY EVER HAD. NO MORE ARGUMENTS OR STRIFE. THEY KNEW THE UMP WOULD GIVE THEM A FAIR SHAKE. SO RATHER THAN WORRYING ABOUT WHO WAS SAFE OR OUT AT SECOND, THEY JUST RELAXED AND CONCENTRATED ON PLAYING THE GAME. IMPRESSED, BENDIX GOES BACK AND TALKS HIS WAY BACK INTO SCHOOL.
THE CONTEST WE ARE INVOLVED IN IS LIFE. CONFLICT AND STRIFE OCCUR WHEN WE DON’T THINK WE WILL GET A FAIR SHAKE. I’M REMINDED OF TWO CHILDREN OF PASTOR FRIEND. THEY WERE FIGHTING OVER WHO WOULD GET THE LAST COOKIE. DAD INTERVENED AND IN CLASSIC FASHION SAID NEITHER WOULD GET THE COOKIE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER IT WAS TIME FOR FAMILY DEVOTIONS. MY FRIEND HAD BEEN TRYING TO TEACH HIS KIDS ABOUT COMPASSION AND KINDNESS. WHEN THE PRAYER TIME CAME, FOUR YEAR OLD IAN PRAYED, “PLEASE, JESUS, HELP ME TO BE MORE KIND TO MY SISTER. AND HELP ABBY TO BE KIND TO ME BY LETTING ME HAVE THE LAST COOKIE.”
STRIFE BETWEEN SIBLINGS AND NATIONS OCCUR WHEN WE DON’T THINK WE ARE GETTING A BIG ENOUGH PIECE OF THE PIE, BE IT APPLE OR YUGOSLAVIA. THE CHRISTIAN HAS NO NEED TO GET BELLIGERENT OR TO FIGHT TO SECURE HIS RIGHTS. WE KNOW WE HAVE AN ALL-POWERFUL UMPIRE WHOSE JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL. MORE THAN THAT EASTER TELLS US WE ARE ON THE WINNING TEAM. SO WE RELAX AND ENJOY THE GAME OF LIFE. THIS IS SOMETHING OF WHAT IT MEANS FOR CHRIST’S PEACE TO RULE IN OUR HEARTS.
NOW THIS PEACE WILL WORK ITSELF OUT IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS. PAUL SAYS WE ARE MEMBERS OF ONE BODY CALLED TO PEACE. NO ONE HAS MORE FUN THAN MEMBERS OF A WINNING TEAM. EACH MEMBER’S CONTRIBUTIONS ARE APPRECIATED. ENCOURAGEMENT IS FREELY GIVEN. EACH TAKES PRIDE IN HIS PART AS THEY WORK TOGETHER TOWARD THE GOAL.
WE ARE TO LET PEACE RULE. IN CHRIST WE ARE WORLD CHAMPS. YOUR RELATIONSHIP SHOULD REFLECT THIS. INDEED OUR ABILITY TO FUNCTION AS THAT CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM WILL TELL YOU HOW MUCH YOU HAVE LET CHRIST RULE. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS. I KNOW JESUS WILL LOOK OUT FOR ME, SO I CAN LOOK OUT FOR YOU. NO LONGER NEED I FOCUS ON MY OWN NEEDS. JESUS WILL TAKE CARE OF ME. DAD, YOUR FOCUS IS ON MOM’S SUCCESS. MOM, YOUR FOCUS IS ON DAD’S SUCCESS. WHEN CHRIST’S PEACE RULES, HUSBANDS HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH LOVE FOR THEIR WIVES; AND WIVES THEIR HUSBANDS.
THE RESULT IS AN OVERFLOW OF THANKFULNESS. HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE TO BE ON THAT CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. WHAT A JOY IT IS TO KNOW WE CAN PLAY BY GOD’S RULES AND WIN! WHAT TREMENDOUS SATISFACTION COMES WHEN WE SEE OURSELVES LOVINMG SOMEONE ELSE, EVEN AS JESUS WOULD. ONLY A PERSON AT PEACE CAN DO THIS. ONCE I AM AT PEACE WITH MY GOD I CAN BE AT PEACE WITH ME. ONCE I AM AT PEACE WITH ME, I HAVE TIME FOR YOU.
SO HOW DO WE GET TO THE PLACE WHERE CHRIST’S PEACE RULES OUR HEARTS?
III. WE CANNOT LET PEACE RULE UNTIL THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELLS IN US RICHLY.
PAUL WANTS US TO PUT ON LOVE. FOR THAT TO HAPPEN WE NEED HIS PEACE. FOR PEACE TO HAPPEN WE NEED TO HEAR JESUS SPEAK. SO PAUL ENCOURAGES US: (16).
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR HIS WORD TO DWELL IN US RICHLY? THE GREEK HERE IS INSTRUCTIVE. IT MEANS JESUS’ WORDS ARE TO HAVE AMPLE ROOM. THE WORD OF GOD IS NOT TO BE CROWDED OFF INTO AN OBSCURE CORNER OF OUR LIVES OTHER CONCERNS THAT CLAMOR FOR OUR ATTENTION. IT ALSO MEANS TO RECEIVE AND HOLD AS A RICH TREASURE. JESUS SPOKE OF A MAN WHO FOUND A GREAT TREASURE IN A FIELD, AND THEN WENT AND SOLD ALL HE HAD AND PURCHASED THE FIELD WITH GREAT JOY. HIS WORD IS OUR PEARL OF GREAT PRICE. HIS WORDS ARE SO DEEPLY IMPLANTED AS TO CONTROL ALL OUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS. THEY COME ALIVE IN US.
NOW THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN WHEN WE HEAR JESUS SPEAK TO US PERSONALLY. COLEEN TOWNSEND EVANS SHARES A STORTY ABOUT A CHRISTIAN WOMAN. SHE HAD A DREAM WHICH CLARIFIES THIS ISSUE. SHE SAID, “I WAS LOOKING INTO A ROOM CROWDED WITH PEOPLE; ALL OF THEM DISTRAUGHT — MOANING AND SOBBING AND WRINGING THEIR HANDS.” AND SHE KNEW THE REASON FOR THEIR DISTRESS WAS THAT THEY HAD LIVED AND DIED FEELING THEY HAD MISSED THE MARK. SUDDENLY THE DOOR OPENED AND IN WALKED JESUS. SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE IN SUCH OBVIOUS DISTRESS, HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION AND BEGAN WALKING AROUND THE ROOM, STANDING IN FRONT OF EACH PERSON.
“MY CHILD, WHY ARE YOU CRYING?” HE ASKED. “WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?”
“I’M CRYING, LORD, BECAUSE MY HUSBAND DIED WHEN WE WERE SO YOUNG, AND FROM THEN ON I WAS JUST LOST WITHOUT HIM. I WANTED TO SERVE YOU, BUT I’VE BEEN SO LONELY — TOO UPSET ALL THESE YEARS TO DO ANYTHING.”
JESUS LOOKED SURPRISED. “OH, DIDN’T YOU GET MY LETTER,” HE SAID.
“WHAT LETTER, LORD. DID YOU WRITE ME A LETTER?”
“OH YES! I WROTE YOU A LETTER AND TOLD YOU NOT TO WORRY; THAT I WOULD BE CLOSER THAN YOUR NEXT BREATH, NEARER THAN HANDS AND FEET. I TOLD YOU I WOULD TAKE THE PLACE OF THAT MISSING ONE; THAT I WOULD FILL YOUR LIFE WITH MEANING.”
IT WAS THE WOMAN’S TURN TO LOOK SURPRISED. “YOU KNOW. THE MINISTER READ THAT LETTER AT MY HUSBAND’S FUNERAL. BUT I DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS PERSONAL — FROM YOU TO ME. IF ONLY I’D KNOWN…
JESUS STEPPED UP TO THE NEXT MAN, HIS HEAD BOWED IN GRIEF.
“LORD, I WAS POOR ALL MY LIFE. I WANTED TO LIVE FOR YOU, BUT I COULDN’T. I WAS TOO BUSY WORRYING HOW I WAS GOING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, AND…
“OH, THEN YOU DIDN’T GET MY LETTER EITHER?”
“NO, LORD, DID YOU WRITE ME A LETTER?”
“YES, MY SON, AND IN IT I TOLD YOU ABOUT THE BIRDS OF THE AIR. THEY DON’T WORRY ABOUT THEIR NEXT MEAL AND YET THEY ARE FED. I TOLD YOU TO PUT ME FIRST FOR I HAD WORK FOR YOU TO DO. I’D GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU REALLY NEEDED.”
“OH, LORD, I REMEMBER READING THAT IN MY BIBLE. BUT I DIDN’T KNOW YOU MEANT IT FOR ME!”
ALL AROUND THE ROOM JESUS WENT AND FOR EVERY MALADY THERE WERE WORDS OF HEALING AND HELP FROM SCRIPTURE; BUT NO ONE HAD TAKEN THEM TO HEART.
I’M NOT A STUDENT OF DREAMS, BUT I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS WOMAN’S INSIGHT.
HIS WORDS WILL HAVE AMPLE ROOM; WE WILL RECEIVE THEM AS A RICH TREASURE WHEN WE KNOW THEY ARE MEANT FOR US PERSONALLY. THEN THEY COME ALIVE; ALIVE IN OUR THINKING. HIS WORD WORKS IT SELF OUT AS WE TEACH AND ADMONISH EACH OTHER. WE SHARE THE WISDOM WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM OUR LORD. ALIVE IN OUR FEELINGS; HIS WORD WORKS ITSELF OUT IN OUR WORSHIP. WE SING PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS TO THE LORD. IT’S OUR HEARTS GRATEFUL RESPONSE TO THE RICH TREASURE WE’VE RECEIVED.
LET HIS WORD DWELL IN YOU RICHLY. HEAR JESUS SPEAK TO YOU PERSONALLY, EVERY PROMISE IN THIS BOOK. APPRECIATE HOW MUCH HE LOVES YOU, HOW VALUABLE YOU ARE IN HIS SIGHT, HOW DEEPLY HE CARES.
OUR TEXT BEGINS WITH THESE WORDS, (12). “THEREFORE AS GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE, HOLY AND DEARLY LOVED,” HOLY MEANS SET APART. THIS VERSE TELLS US WE ARE CHOSEN BY GOD, SET APART TO BE THE SPECIAL OBJECTS OF HIS LOVE. THAT IS WHO WE ARE. IT IS THE SOURCE OF OUR UNSHAKABLE PEACE AND THE POWER WHEREBY WE PUT ON LOVE. FOR TO HEAR JESUS SAY, “MY CHILD, I LOVE YOU.” ENABLES US TO SAY, “AND I LOVE YOU.” HUSBANDS TO WIVES AND WIVES TO HUSBANDS, BUT MOST PROFOUNDLY, A CHOSEN PEOPLE, HOLY AND DEARLY LOVE TO THEIR AMAZING LORD.