A home of shalom (part 2)

Colossians 3:12-17 (ESV)

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

We desperately desire peace in our home, family, marriage, parenting, and ministry.  But instead of a magic formula for peace, we find a command.  Last time we noticed how Paul begins with who we are in Jesus.  Our identity in Christ is the compelling motivation to obey the commands that follow.  In Jesus we are chosen, holy, and loved.

"Therefore, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
To clothe ourselves means to intentionally choose to think and act a certain way.  It's a decision of the will, empowered by the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.  God commands us to be characterized by these virtues.  These qualities should envelope our thoughts, emotions, attitudes, words, and actions.

Compassion - bowels of mercy, a heart that hurts and helps, eyes that see another person in need and hands that are moved to come alongside and meet that need - just like Jesus, Luke 7:13.

Kindness - seeking what is good for others, joyfully and generously giving what is best for another, even for an enemy - just like God, Ephesians 2:7.

Humility - selflessness, not thinking highly of ourselves, considering others better than ourselves, refusing to seek our own advantage, joyfully seeking to serve others - just like Jesus, Philippians 2:5-8.

Gentleness - meekness, renouncing violence and choosing peace, defusing aggression and fostering calm, avoiding harshness and demonstrating tenderness - just like Jesus, Matthew 11:29.

Patience - long-suffering, enduring with joy, persevering with peace, waiting in hope - just like God, II Peter 3:9.

So...
When our child falls out of their chair even after we warned them about the danger, we will ask God to fill us with his Spirit and the compassion of Jesus.

When our child poops out of their diaper, jammies, blanket, and car seat we will ask God to fill us with his Spirit and the gentleness of Jesus.

When a church member slanders us we will ask God to fill us with his Spirit and the patience of Jesus.

When our spouse exposes our sinful thinking we will ask God to fill us with his Spirit and the humility of Jesus.

BECAUSE in Jesus we are chosen, holy, and loved.  That's the first step to a peaceful home.

Stay tuned...