Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…
Colossians 3:12
Sin goes so much deeper than just actions and words against God. God alone is worthy of all our affections and worship. But instead of loving God with our whole heart, our innate desire to please ourselves has divided our affections, making light of who God is. This makes us unacceptable in God’s sight – no amount of ‘good works’ on the outside could remove the rotten core of sin. But, God, rich in mercy, sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our place and rescue us from this sin. The old self is now gone, crucified with Christ, replaced by a new creation, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of our Creator.
So, we must put off our old self, thrusting aside every weight, and the sin that so easily entangles. We lay down the pride that pushes us to the top of the ladder or the front of the line. We let go of our self-serving motives. We give up endlessly striving for more worldly possessions, positions, and relationships to satisfy our own desires. Our satisfaction is in God Himself, not in pleasing ourselves. But it’s not begrudgingly following a list of rules; it’s a transformed life. When we see the magnitude of God’s grace and the cost of our sin, sin no longer tastes as sweet.
What replaces the old self? The Holy Spirit now lives in us, teaching us to obey God from the heart. We learn by Christ’s example. His compassion toward us stirs us to compassion for others. His kindness toward us spurs us on to kindness toward others. His humility, meekness, and patience draws us to humility, meekness, and patience in our own lives. His forgiveness toward us gives us the perspective to be able to forgive others. His love for us drives us to love others in the same way. So, let His peace fill our hearts and His words fill our mouths. May our hearts be overflowing with gratitude to Him. May everything we do be for His glory, so that others may see and believe.
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation!
References: Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:4-5, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:10, Hebrews 12:1, Colossians 3:12-17
Studio Update:
We have some tiny salvia plants that haven’t gotten taller than my finger is long. Since they were starting to bloom, I pinched off a bunch of tiny blooms. Not having the heart to throw them away entirely, I brought them in. Conveniently, we had a very tiny pink doll-sized pitcher to put them in. Inspired and excited, I launched into a tiny bouquet series, which now makes me hunt and forage for the runts and tiniest flowers we happen to have. I found rudbeckias smaller than my thumb (stunted by deer nibbles), baby-sized basil already blooming in our ‘kitchen herb pots’, and drought stunted sunflowers barely an inch wide. Who knows what tiny too-small-for-a-normal-vase flowers I’ll find next?
Thanks for stopping!
Blair