It has been a full day, Father. I appreciate the ability to accomplish several things that needed doing, but I am weary. And with the time change, it may be after 7:00 but it still feels like it’s after 8:00! Use me as You will. Amen.
Colossians 3:12 (<<click here to read the passage)
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12 NLT
Lord Jesus, this verse tells me that You chose me to be a holy person. As the Amplified Bible explains it, that means I am [set apart, sanctified for Your purpose] and the holy person You have made me is well-beloved [by God Himself].
Reading through this verse reminds me of the closing verse of today’s sermon.
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:14 NIV
My utmost goal is to follow You, and when I follow You, clothing myself with You I will become more like You.
So as Colossians 3:12 commands, I must clothe myself “with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility gentleness and patience.”
This list may be short, but Lord it is a lot to process! I am not complaining whatsoever; I just want to get every possible benefit from it! There is so much to take in and learn from!
“tenderhearted mercy” – compassion (NIV), bowels of mercy (KJV), heart of compassion (NASB) Lord, You call me to love others without reservation – to extend to them the love You extend to me
“kindness” – not harsh or rough, not brutal but a genuine desire to be benevolent to others – caring
“humility” – not full of myself, but thinking of others and their needs and feeling first
“gentleness” – amiable, mild, not severe or rough
“patience” – the beauty of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain without complaint, loss of temper, or irritation
Wow! This is not a little list but a BIG list! And really it boils down to clothing ourselves with Christ! It is a lot to live up to. On some of these fronts, I have a decent handle most of the time but sometimes I fail and of course, patience is often a struggle.
Lord, all I can do is give myself over to You every moment of my life! I fully understand that I can only succeed in this goal by allowing the Holy Spirit complete control. I see You working through me. I know there is still a lot of “bad” me to work around or sometimes through but with all my heart, soul, and mind, I truly want these attributes – Your attributes – to shine through in how I live my life. May I be a useful broken vessel to touch others, to love others, as only You can.
As the old hymn goes,
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall fresh on me.”
~ Daniel Iversion, 1926
(June 21st, 2015, Sun, 6:26 am)
Nov 6th, 2022, Sun, 7:16 pm
