Putting on the likeness of Christ
The passage for our meditation this morning is taken from Colossians 3:10-17.
“[Having] clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all! As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Let us look at five simple points for an exemplary Christian life from the passage that has been read.
Firstly, verse 12 tells us: Having been chosen by God, being holy and beloved, we need to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. That is, clothing ourselves with the attitude of Christ. Philippians 2:5 tells us, “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ.”
More often than not, we tend to clothe ourselves with animosity, cruelty, intolerance, pride and impatience. We tend to look down upon others weaker than us. In a world of ‘survival of the fittest,” we are asked to have the attitude of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.
Secondly, we are also asked to forgive each other – just as the Lord has forgiven us of our sins. The Lord forgives only those tho repent and seek forgiveness. I cannot simply forgive someone who wrongs me unless he/she seeks forgiveness and repents. Forgiveness is a two-way street – seek it, give it.
Thirdly, we must clothe ourselves with love for love binds everything together in harmony. Love means caring and minding others above ourselves. Love is sacrifice, it is keeping the peace.
Fourthly, we should let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. In this, we must teach and admonish (reprove, caution, scold) each other in this word. Our minds these days think of everything else except the word of God. We rarely see people talking about the word of God to each other. But let us remember that as Christians, and as the called of God, his beloved, we must allow the word of God to seep through us, mould us, shape us and fill us.
Additionally, we should also sing praises to our Lord – in gratitude.
Finally, we ought to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him. Our thoughts, minds and actions should all be in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. If our actions or thoughts cannot be done in the name of Christ, we must then think again, whether it is right for us as Christians to do it.
May the Good Lord enable us all to follow him in his example and bless us all.
