Only God's Love Can Do That

Colossians 3:11-14 – Only God’s Love Can Do That

One body – the body of Christ. Remember that because Paul says that in Christ, all dividing walls are broken down because Jesus is all in all. Do you know how I understand that picture? It’s like a solution that is poured into us and around us that dissolves us until we are one. That may not be the best illustration, but it makes sense to me.

In Christ, we are the elect of God – chosen by Him, saved by Him, secured by Him. This makes us holy and beloved. Set apart and favored. Sanctified and blessed. The fact that He chose us proves that we are loved, and the fact that He loves us caused Him to set us apart. Now because of our love for Him, we MUST change. Yes, He changes us, but we, too, must make changes. Changes that are not possible without His working in us.

·         We must become compassionate toward others.

·         Kindness should be more than just a word in our vocabulary.

·         Humility, that desire to see ourselves as we really are knowing that we must esteem others more highly.

·         Meekness – surrendered strength harnessed by the Master.

·         Patient endurance – waiting until God says it’s over, whatever IT is. Enduring even the flaws of others and being willing to forgive without hesitation.

These are the new attributes that must become part of our spiritual DNA.

But the one thing that is above all others, the ultimate goal of being in Christ, is to love as God loves for that is the bond of perfection. Love is what binds us together and brings us to maturity. In fact, it is love that will enable us to put on all these things – only God’s love can do that.