“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him (Jesus Christ) who created him”
Colossians 3:8-10
Colossians 3:8-10
Anger: A deep, smoldering bitterness.
Wrath: A sudden outburst of sinful anger.
Malice: General moral evil.
Blasphemy: better translated slander,
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 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.”
Colossians 3:12-13
Tender mercies: rendered a “heart of compassion”
Kindness: Goodness towards others that pervades the entire person.
Humility: a lowliness of mind,
Meekness: gentleness, it is the willingness to suffer injury or insult rather than inflict such hurts.
Longsuffering: Patience that endures injustice and troublesome circumstances with hope for coming relief.
Almighty God, Your word states time and again that love for You and of You is obedience to Your commands. And Your commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3). On the contrary, Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. (Matthew 11:30). Yet Your commands are completely against my nature and counter cultural to everything I have ever been taught. How true are Your words when speaking of Yourself saying, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” (John 8:23). You are certainly not of this world, but the Creator God, founder of all that exists. O good and perfect Light of the world, shine brightly into the deepest secrets of my heart. How can I expect to live according to Your pattern if I am secretly walking in my own? Remove me from the path of destruction and place me on the narrow road that passes through the narrow gate that I may enter into Your holy presence, and be where you are. Lord You are not deceived, and You are not mocked, Your eyes see and Your ears hear all that goes on in the depth of my soul, for You look at the heart! (1 Samuel 16:7). Examine my heart, and purify me of all unrighteousness. Should You, and You shall, find something that is displeasing to You, than I humbly ask that You reveal in to me that I may be rid of it and bring You and offering worthy of Your acceptance and love. How gracious are You Almighty God, and how great is Your love towards us! That even while I was still a sinner You chose to die for me. (Romans 5:8).
What can I bring the King who possesses in one hand the universe and in the other my heart? What gift can I bring to Him who has given me the gift of life and eternal life thereafter? What can I offer to You the Christ, Son of God, who redeemed me to Yourself and purchased my soul with currency of blood?
I bring You my gratitude and my services to do Your will and love You all the days of my life. In all humility before The One and Only God I present my body, a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1), that which You already own. I submit to Your ways, give me the strength to obey You, and the desire to know You. You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You. (Psalm 16:2)
