“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.” Colossians 3:12
I am one of “the elect of God,” which means that I am the object of God’s grace and mercy. I have been set apart for eternal life in heaven. I am a child of God!
How did this happen? For me, it happened in 1968. The Bible told me that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Because of the sin in my life, originally imputed to me through Adam and Eve’s sin, I could not measure up to God’s perfect standard of holiness. Romans 6:23 records the penalty of sin. “For the wages of sin is death…” Although physical death did begin when sin entered the world, this verse really refers to a spiritual death. I could not have fellowship with God because of my sin, and therefore I was condemned to an eternity without Him.
However, the last part of Romans 6:23 offered me hope. “… but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” God’s only Son, Jesus, came to earth and sacrificed His life on a cross, shedding His precious blood to atone for my sins (and yours!). When I chose to believe in Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross and accept Him as my Lord and Saviour, my relationship with God was restored, and I was assured I had eternal life in heaven forever. It was at that moment that I became one of God’s elect. I became a person who was now chosen by God to receive all the benefits associated with being His child! From that time forward, I was a new creation in Christ Jesus!
As a new creation in Christ, God now views me as “holy” through my identification with His Son. I will never be holy like God, but because of Jesus, my sins have been forgiven and forgotten (Psalm 103:12), and I am able to stand before a just and holy God, presentable to Him because of my relationship with His Son.
In addtion to being holy in God’s sight, I am also His beloved. The Bible has so many verses that profess God’s love for me. Two of my favorites are Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee,” and John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” It is truly wonderful to know that God loves me just as I am, and He will love me forever!!
Knowing God loves me as He does makes me want to align my life to His will and way. Titus 2:11-12 states, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Colossians 3:12 gives me a few more specifics about how my life should be now that I am beloved of God.
First, I should have “bowels of mercies.” During the 1600s, when the KJV was written, people often referred to the bowels as the seat of one’s emotions (“gut-wrenching,” isn’t it?). This phrase actually means that I should be “moved with compassion” for others. Compassion is being concerned about the sufferings of others, which is reinforced by Galatians 6:2. “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
In addition to being compassionate, I should be kind to others. Ephesians 4:32 reiterates this. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Kindness involves a number of things, including forgiveness and understanding.
I should also demonstrate humility. Not only should I not be prideful in my own self, but more importantly, I should have a deep sense of my own unworthiness in the sight of God. Without Him, I am nothing. It is only through Him that I am lifted up! “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:10.
As one of God’s elect, I should also have a temperament that is gentle and mild, void of uncontrolled outbursts of anger. I should not be easily provoked or irritated, but rather I should have a meek and gentle spirit that forbears under difficult circumstances. God promises that He will lead and teach those who are meek in spirit (Psalm 25:9).
Lastly, I should be longsuffering, which goes hand-in-hand with meekness. Patience helps me endure all circumstances, good or bad. Ephesians 4:2 states, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.” Patience with others is one way I can manifest God’s love because His love is longsuffering (1 Corinthians 13:4). As my faith grows, I learn more patience (James 1:3), and I become more Christ-like in my spiritual life, which then gives more credibility to my witness for Him.
There are many more characteristics enumerated in Scripture that I need to incorporate into my life, but this is a great start!
Be like Jesus – this my song,
In the home and in the throng;
Be like Jesus, all day long,
I would be like Jesus.
(from “I Would Be Like Jesus” by James Rowe)
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13
**********
It’s important to remember that I may be the only Jesus that some people will ever see. I need to represent Him accurately to the world.