God's Mission
Colossians 3:12-17
... whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
~ Apostle Paul
Colossians 3:17
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Pondering Point
To adapt Paul's teaching in Colossians 3, place the word forgiving in the slot of "whether in word or deed, do it" so that it reads "whatever you do, forgive all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him".
In God’s mission connected to Colossians 3:12-17, we see that God desires the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts, since as members of one body we have been called to peace.
So, with a new aroma of thankfulness, we are encouraged to forgive as the Lord has forgiven us. Then along with this, we add virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We top that off with love which binds all this together in perfect unity. Let your choice to forgive be an act of love – an act of “agape” love, one which is sacrificial love, a choice to love even if not being loved back.
Prayer
Father God, in this moment it is my desire to be a person of forgiveness. Let this moment be like yeast to the rest of my day, the rest of my week, yes, even the rest of my life – that I am a person of forgiveness regardless of who is around me and what has been done to me. In this way I will be like Jesus who has forgiven me. In His name I pray. Amen.
Micro-Meditation
Psalm 139:13-18
- For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb. - I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. - My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. - Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. - How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them! - Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
Read the verses of the Psalm.
Mark the words or phrases that catch your attention.
Meditate: talk (or better, write) with God about those words. Ask Him to impress things upon your heart and mind; expect responses.
Teaching or Command of God
1 Timothy 4:4-5
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
The Promise
Galatians 4:6-7
Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Pondering Point
Can you accept that no matter what has happened to you, no matter what choices you have made, no matter where you are at, you are wonderfully made?