The Bible gives several lists of values. Here is one.
"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." Colossians 3:12-14.
THEREFORE...
The context of this passage is that Paul encourages those who are made alive in Christ to set their hearts on things above. As he expounds on the idea that in Christ, we focus on heavenly things, he makes it practical for how we live here on earth.
CLOTHE YOURSELVES...
Clothing is a word picture for covering yourself. In this context, it is to say let all your acts be wrapped up in these things.
This is a beautiful teaching illustration. You must willfully put on clothing. He did not say, "Let your servant clothe you" or "Let clothing happen." To say, "clothe yourselves" requires a purposeful act. we must become intentional in practicing the following virtues.
COMPASSION...
An act of grace when it is in your power to exercise justice or punishment. It is an act of sympathetic understanding.
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KINDNESS...
An act of good mercy when it is in your power to withhold it.
HUMILITY...
Take the servant role and esteem others as better than you are.
GENTLENESS...
An act that considers another's weakness and approaches them with care.
PATIENCE...
Enduring over and over the weakness of others.
BEAR WITH EACH OTHER...
Holding others up in times of difficulty or to carry them in their weakness.
FORGIVE AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU...
The highest standard of forgiveness one could have. The Lord forgave sinners who rebelled against him, even those who died for their redemption. If that is our example, we must never hold a grudge or seek revenge.
OVERALL...
We are to put on these virtues, but over them like an outer garment, we put on love. These wonderful virtues are wrapped up with the one that is above all and holds all other values together. It is the supreme governing rule of conduct and is the one thing that is our default behavior. If in doubt, this is the one to do.
PUT ON LOVE...
As we put on the other virtues, we are especially admonished to put on love; we must intentionally choose to do it.
PERFECT UNITY...
Love is the most powerful and binding of virtues and brings balance where one value may become overemphasized, and others neglected. When love is the binding value, we must practice all the values sincerely and without hidden motivation.
(c) Adron 6/24/16
