Saturday, March 4, 2017 | Clothe Yourself in Love

Posted on Mar 4, 2017 in Devotions |

Reflection |

All of our reflections for this week have been focused on preparing our hearts for the new series that will begin this Sunday called, The 40 Day Challenge. Our goal has been to begin thinking about our focus for this series. Over the next forty days, how can we more clearly live into this vision where Christ becomes greater in our lives and we become less?

Today’s reading from Colossians reminds us that this is not an individual journey. It is one that is meant to be shared in the context of a community of brothers and sisters who are also seeking to live in the will and way of Christ. Our progress towards this vision is in many ways dependent on the way in which the virtues and character of Christ are lived out in our relationships with one another. Do you hear that in today’s scripture reading?

Paul talks about compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. The imagery that Paul uses here encourages us to carefully consider the “clothing” that we choose to wear every single day. “Put on love” Paul says.

Today I want to encourage you to spend a few moments this morning thinking about those who have modeled these virtues for you. Our growth does not happen in isolation. It grows out of relationship. Whose practice of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love has helped you grow in these practices? Take a moment to offer God thanks for those relationship as you prepare for today’s challenge.

Challenge for Today |

Identify a culture of someone you know that is different than yours. Ask the person about their culture. Be genuinely interested. Research the culture and find at least two positive attributes of that way of life. Pray for that person, and try to refrain from thinking of them as “other” or as different from you.

Prayer |

Holy and loving God, today I want to give you thanks and praise for the people in my life who have taught me about each of the virtues that are encouraged in today’s scripture. Thank you for planting those seeds in my life through these faithful servants. I want to do for others as others have done for me so guide me this day to living out the ideals that express the heart and character of Jesus. AMEN.