Today’s Readings:
Colossians 3:12-15
John 13:24
“Since God chose you to be holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgives you, so you must forgive others. And above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds it all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” (Colossians 3:12-15 NLT)
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. (John 13:24 NLT)
Paul, in our text, provides guidance on how to live daily for God in response to His love for mankind, demonstrated through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. As Christians, our faith and conversion are not solely a result of our conviction but are made possible by God’s effectual, free, and sovereign grace. Therefore, our response to salvation should be to embody the attitude and character of Christ, who is our model. We are all recipients of God’s incomprehensible and special love.
Our attitude and character should be guided as follows:
Imitate Christ’s compassionate, forgiving attitude towards each other.
Love God and let love guide our relationships with one another.
Let the peace of God find relevance in our hearts.
Be gentle – meek, which is a willingness to suffer injury or insult rather than to inflict such hurts;
Deal with each other in humility, which is the antidote for selfishness and lack of love, which poisons relationships with each other.
Patience (which is longsuffering), the opposite of quick anger, harshness, resentment, revenge, etc., epitomizes Jesus, who endured injustice and humiliating circumstances with the hope of future relief.
Always be thankful to God for His love, grace, and mercy.
Let the word of God reflect in our conversations and behaviour.
As representatives of Christ, let us live in the light of the word of God always to draw unbelievers to Christ.
The key to forgiving others is to always remember God’s immense love for the world. While we were still sinners, He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice for the atonement of our sins. The truth is that forgiveness is not always easy. However, to move forward in life, achieve healthy spiritual growth, and maintain emotional balance, we must learn to forgive. We sin continually, yet we turn to God in prayer, trusting in His mercy and believing that He forgives us. In the same way, we should cultivate, with the help of the Holy Spirit, the habit of forgiving others willingly. Realizing the infinite love and forgiveness of God toward us can also strengthen our ability to forgive. Additionally, reflecting on the pain and agony that Jesus endured for our sake should move us to extend forgiveness to others. I often advise people to pray for those who have offended them. Through prayer, the Holy Spirit heals our hearts and convicts the other person of their wrongdoing—many times, our so-called offender may not even realize they have done anything wrong.
We are called to put to death our old sinful nature (v. 14), which includes anger, bitterness, resentment, envy, jealousy, and pride, so that our renewed nature can produce the virtues God desires. All these virtues are bound together in love. When God’s supernatural love flows into our hearts, it brings an indescribable peace, which unites us in perfect harmony. Through salvation, we are united as one body in Christ, resting securely in the eternal peace of God. Scripture admonishes us, as much as possible, to be at peace with all men (Romans 12:18). Living in peace does not automatically eliminate differences of opinion, but it ensures that we work together in love, our differences notwithstanding. This love is not merely an emotion but a conscious decision to meet each other’s needs. True love fosters peace among individuals, families, different tribes, races, people of other faiths, and even within the body of Christ. Whenever our relationships face conflicts—whether through open confrontation or silent resentment—we should wisely seek solutions in love.
This kind of love is only available to those who are in Christ, as it is the bond of perfection that binds us in unbreakable fellowship. Without love, any virtues we develop will lead to division, stagnation, and imbalance (1 Corinthians 13:3). We must let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts because the heart is the centre of many internal struggles—our fears and hopes, trust and distrust, jealousy and love all clash within us. To handle these conflicts and live as God desires, we must use the rule of peace to make choices that promote harmony in our souls, families, society, and communities. Keeping in mind the charge of Christ, that we love one another just as He has loved us (John 13:34).
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
If you are reading this, and desire the unquenchable love and indescribable peace that flows from God the Father – peace that enables us to achieve feats beyond our ordinary self and gives us a place amongst the sanctified – or you want to rededicate your life to Christ, quietly repeat this prayer after me: Thank you, Father, for Your love, grace, and mercy that grants us forgiveness of sins. I acknowledge my sins and weakness and ask for forgiveness. I completely surrender my life to the leadership of Christ. Let the blood of Jesus cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Holy Spirit, fill me and take total control of my life to the glory and honour of God, in Jesus’ name.
If you have just said this short prayer, I congratulate you and welcome you into the family of God. Prayerfully look for a Bible believing church and let the resident pastor/reverend know you are a new convert. God bless us all in Jesus’ name.
Prayer:
I plead and soak my body, soul, and spirit in the blood of Jesus, in Jesus’ name.
I dwell in the liberty of Christ, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, in Jesus’ name.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast, teachable, humble, and forgiving spirit within me, in Jesus’ name.
Lord, give me a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart as a pleasing sacrifice to you, in Jesus’ name.
I acquaint myself with the Almighty, and I have peace; thereby, good is flowing within me. Holy Spirit, teach and encourage me, in Jesus’ name.
I receive the laws from the mouth of God and lay His words in my heart. Help me to keep iniquity far from my tabernacle, oh Lord.
The young lion does lack and suffer hunger, but because I trust and seek You, Lord, I will not lack any good thing, in Jesus’ name.
Let the zeal of the Almighty fulfil all the promises of God in Psalms 23 and 91 in my life, in the land of the living, in sound health, sound mind, and good old age, focusing my gaze on the risen Christ.
Comentarios