Read: Colossians 3:12-17
As I have read the headlines recently I have noticed a trend. One of them asked a question, “Why Is Everyone So Rude Right Now?” News stories recently have documented how airplane passengers, restaurant patrons, school board meetings, and many other places have seen an increase in people getting bent out of shape and even violent over various situations. Yes, it’s been a tough couple of years, but we must not lose our sanity or our patience with each other.
This holds especially true for those of us who are followers of Jesus. The apostle Paul says it so well in Colossians 3 when he says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
This encouragement does not mean that we cannot speak up when something needs to be said. It just reminds us that how we speak and how we react is very important. As Paul says, we need to let love lead the way. Kindness, compassion, humility, gentleness, and patience are how we are to respond to challenges on this earth as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved. That includes those things and people we might disagree with as well.
Make It Personal: How often do you get bent out of shape over things going on in your life, in our country, or in the world? How do you handle yourself during those times? We need to be careful to remember the encouragement of God to let love lead the way as we react to those things. We must let the love, kindness, and humility of Jesus lead our way.
Have a wonderful week, Glen Rhodes
