not easy
Colossians 3
Rules for Holy Living
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory…….12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom,
set your mnd on things above, not earthly things, WHEN THE EARTHLY THINGS ARE SCREAMING FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
clothe yourselves with compassion, WHEN COMPASSION TAKES TIME AND IS ALMOST ALWAYS AN INTERUPTION OF WHAT YOU HAD PLANNED!
clothe yourself with kindness, WHEN YOUR HURTING AND SOMETIMES ALL YOU WANT TO DO IS LASH OUT!
clothe yourself with humility, WHEN SOMETIMES ALL YOU WANT IS A LITTLE RECOGNITION FOR WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN GREAT EFFORT TOWARDS!
clothe yourself with gentleness, IN A WORLD WHERE GENTLENESS IS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND CONSIDERED WEAK AND MAKES YOU AN EASY MARK!
clothe yourself with patience, WOW, WHAT A LOST ART IN A SOCIETY THAT DEMANDS INSTANT GRATIFICATION!
bear with each other, OH GIVE ME A BREAK WE BARELY HAVE TIME FOR EACH OTHER!
We have been called to walk a different path than those of the world, above you see how stark the contrast between the two really is. I personally can relate to all the capitilized phrases, these are the things I have to guard against so there is a difference in my walk that is noticed. We have been called to let the PEACE of Christ rule in our hearts, rule in the thing that pumps life to every part of our body, we have been called to let that PEACE rule so that we can be all these things to a world of people who are hurting, angry, beaten down, lost, and searching for a way out.
Is it easy, no not easy, but we have been raised with Christ, we have been given hope, we have been given a future that is secure, we have been given the assurance that whatever we face we face it with someone who is greater than us, we have been given the fullness of God through Christ who lives in us. It is not easy, but it is our calling……
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