Colossians 3:12-17

For this month's Bible study, I'd like to begin by sharing two verses:

"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." (Colossians 3:12-13, NASB)

Question: Who are you having a hard time forgiving today? What is stopping you?

Take it to the Lord, and in light of this Scripture passage, ask Him to help you forgive that person - "just as the Lord forgave you." If we understand this passage, we will see that our capacity for forgiving others occurs in part as a result of our cultivating "a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

Forgiveness is a challenge, but one God knows and understands.

If it is important to Him, it is important to us!

Now let's move on to the four verses at the end of chapter three – they give us such encouragement and useful tips on how to live the Christian life.

Colossians 3:14 shares with us a glimpse of the power of love in the life of believers - it is our link to Christian unity. Love, lived out as a result of the love of Christ, is the very thing that unifies us in the Spirit! It is our love for Jesus and the relationship we have with Him that keeps us in fellowship with other believers who, as humans, will always fall short in some way.

To me, this is one of the great comforts in our walk of faith -- when we realize that Jesus is the only One who will never let us down, and it is thru that knowledge that we are free to accept our fellow man for who they are, and better yet, who they are in Him. Another key element to this verse is the action that takes place. We "put on" love! It is an intentional effort to clothe ourselves with the love of Christ -- to walk it out each and every day – to live it. Are you living out the love of Christ in your life? Does that show your unification with the believers around you?

Verse 15 takes this thought of love and unity one step further -- to the peace of Christ. Jesus Christ is not only the source of our peace, He is peace! He is the prince of peace. No matter what we face in life, as Christians we have a direct link to the source of true peace...and His name is Jesus. This in no way means that we will avoid every bad thing in life. It does, however, mean that when everything in our life seems to be turned upside down, we have a Redeemer who loves us, sustains us, and provides a peace that passes all understanding.

Jesus is the peace in our storm.

Now, Colossians 3:16 is a favorite verse of mine, and in my Bible study, "Life Principles for Christ-like Living" I take a really in-depth look at this passage. For this month's online study, let's just look at the key points in the verse. For the Word of Christ to have an impact on our lives, it must "dwell within us" -- not a speed reading course, or a skim-thru version of reading the word. Let the truth of the gospel, the Word of God that bears witness to Jesus Christ, dwell in you richly. Jesus is the Word of God, and everything in the Word bears witness to Him! What an honor it is to be able to read God's love letter to us.

One of the greatest parts of our spiritual journey is our connection to the gospel. We are saved, and we are all called to teach and bear witness. As verse 16 reminds us, we have the Word in us, and we also encourage, admonish, and teach others about God. We impact those around us with our faith. Can you imagine? How awesome is God that He allows us to be a light in the world -- a witness to His greatness, and a voice in the darkness! Not only that, in this verse He also allows us to build up the body of believers in a variety of ways.

This is an active faith!

Colossians 3:17 sums up our role as followers of God Most High. Not only are we in relationship with Jesus, and redeemed from hell, but we are given a role in His big picture plan. We teach, encourage, admonish, give praise, love, have peace...and we do it all with a very specific motive...to give glory to the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord. Verse 17 puts it this way, "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

Whatever we do friends.

Everything.

It's all done in the name of Jesus, to glorify the Father.

The next big question is simple - are you living in light of verse 17? Does your life bear the fruit of a follower of Christ, who gives glory to Jesus and the Father in all things?