By Dawn Johnson

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:12–14 ESV)

Let’s just stop a minute and step back and take this section of scripture bit by bit. But first read the whole portion with in its context –read all of Colossians 3- read all of Colossians to get the full picture of what God has written to us.

At the beginning of chapter 3 we can see in verse 1 the idea that we are to “keep seeking the things above…” and verse 2 challenges us to “set your mind on the things above.” When we get to the portion that we are looking at, Paul writes “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved…” We know that as His chosen these are things that should be evident in our lives; things that we should be allowing the Spirit to be working in us. This is not something that we can achieve in and of ourselves; it is God’s work in us.

As you consider each of these, I would encourage you to look up the words in a Bible dictionary even if you think you know what they mean. Sometimes we miss a definition that really opens up our minds to receive the full message.
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• Compassionate hearts,

• Kindness

• Humility

• Meekness

• Patience

• Bearing with one another

• If someone has a complaint against another, Forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

• Put on LOVE which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

The unity and perfect harmony that these bring, can only be found through a relationship surrendered to Christ. In and of ourselves we cannot be holy, compassionate, kind, etc. We need to bear with one another and instead of complaining, forgive. The forgiveness extended is to be “as the Lord has forgiven you,” that is total forgiveness and it says we must forgive.

The last portion is the key. We are to “Put on Love.” The love of Christ will bind everything together in perfect harmony. It is His Love that does this.