Thursday, August 27, 2015

His Job Is Not Our Job

"12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." ~ Colossians 3:12-14


Remember, Paul is speaking to God's Children directly; this is not a message for the masses (though they could benefit from it) but for those whom have submitted their selves, hearts and lives, to Christ Jesus. This command comes on the heels of Paul explaining that there are no national, physical, social, and economic distinctions between us but everyone falls under the authority of Christ. Therefore we, as followers of Christ and children of God, are to treat people differently than the world does and to see people differently than the world does. We have "put off the old man" (Ch3, v9) and have put on the new. This "new man" is not a jacket that we put on for Sundays, Wednesdays, Easters and Christmas', but the eternity-altering mindset of Christ Jesus Himself! There is not a situation in which we are allowed to "take off" the new man. If we are indeed in Christ Jesus, then we are transformed, not merely disguised by a "good person" jacket.

So, Paul's list of the outcome- the evidence if you will, of what someone who has died to self and been raised in Christ should look and act like. Our words and actions should be characterized by these things; to fellow believers and non-believers alike. And yes, we (and I loudly include myself in that "we") do fall short of consistently following this command because we are not yet perfected, but are continuously in the process of becoming more and more Christ-like. This is why Paul reminds us to put on tender mercies, humility, etc..

Paul gives special attention to forgiveness here. In my opinion, in general, we find it easier to be kind, patient and humble than to be forgiving. Forgiveness is predicated on pain and hurt, and when pain in involved it is our natural human tendency to lash out, fight back or run. We have little trouble being kind to someone who is kind to us, but the very second someone is mean, hurtful, or crosses us, the effort it takes to be Christ-like seems almost impossible to muster. And so Paul gives us something to focus on, reminding us it is possible to forgive because our example, Jesus Christ, found it possible to forgive us. Christ did not merely forgive us with His words, but by His royal blood; even His very life, and He is faithful to give us the strength to forgive others whom have trespassed against us.

Saving the most important point for last, Paul encourages us to put on love. Christ-like love is the attribute under which all others fall. Love encompasses all of Jesus' characteristics; it encompasses all of God's character as well, for it is written, "God is love" (1 John 4:8 & 16)

I want to be very careful with what I am about to say, and it is my opinion but believe it's drawn from what I have read throughout Scripture; the World, and those who do not know Christ do not, by nature, hold themselves to these same standards. We, as the church, need to be aware of this and be careful of trying to do the Holy Spirit's work. By this I mean, we cannot hold people of the world to the same standards Jesus Christ hold us, because they themselves do not use Christ as their standard. So then why would we expect them to act like we do?  We are to be the ones who are different from this world. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, His representatives, in this Enemy occupied territory- to borrow C.S. Lewis' words. So, as we engage with people around us, whether that be at work, school or the coffee shop, remember we represent Christ. Regardless of how people around us act and react, when we meet Jesus Christ face to face, we will be responsible for our own thoughts, words, and actions. In every situation remember God is the Judge, and the One who will change peoples standard.
"Let all that you do be done with love." - 1 Corinthians 16:14

Father, author and perfecter of my faith, thank You for being the example in all situations. I ask for the strength to love those who do not show me kindness, to be Your example in all things. Keep me close to Your side, so that I may not stray. I love You and trust in You and Your promises. In Jesus' Name; Amen.

No comments:

Post a Comment