Colossians 3:12-13
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
The very fact that the Apostle Paul urges us to dress ourselves with the virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience signifies that none of us has “arrived” spiritually. All of us are flawed, deficient, and weak in some respects. As we yield to God the Father and Jesus Christ and develop these virtues, we must be forbearing and forgiving toward our brothers on the basis of Christ’s example of forbearance and mercy toward us. The enabling power of God’s Spirit is already within us, or this exhortation would be in vain.
It can be done if we will choose to humble ourselves and act when we become aware of the need of a brother or of the church itself. God calls upon us here not merely to act but, to do it with affection. In all cases, we must let our heart dictate to our hand, to let our most tender feelings encounter the miseries of those in distress, just as Christ did in descending to clothe Himself in clay. This world has hardened us. We have seen so much arrogance and cruelty that God warns that at the end time people will be “without natural affection” (II Timothy 3:3, KJV). If we are the end-time generation, we must go a long way even to start to be like Christ in kindness. Kindness is something that we must develop, and we can do it because God has already enabled us by His Spirit.
Never forget God’s character, His example, and this promise He has given to us in Isaiah 54:10: “‘For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has mercy on you. We must not only do no hurt to any, but do what good we can to all. Those who are the elect of God, holy and beloved, ought to be lowly and compassionate towards all.
