GMG Week 6 Reflection {Colossians 3:7-14}

"and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him-- a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. 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. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." ~Colossians 3:7-14 {NASB}

New life in Christ should have a dramatic effect on our relationships. God is not only interested in our individual relationships with Him, but He has created us to live in community with others and unity among that community is valuable to Him. He wants us to "put aside" those things which are destructive to our relationships {anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech, lies} and, by the power of God, "put on" those characteristics that encourage healthy relationships {compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another, forgiveness, love}. It is Christ in us that empowers and enables us to put on these characteristics.  However, "put on" indicates that we must take intentional action. God is the One who supplies the power to "put on" these virtues, but we still have to choose to put them on!