Clothe—What God’s Children Are Called to Wear
- Disagreements happen. Feeling get stepped on and oftentimes trampled. He said. She said. They said. Turn away and walk away from one another, rather than together, as you were walking just minutes ago.
- Disagreements happen—when two people are involved in a relationship. There is no way to have a relationship with “Me, Myself, & I.” Yes, that’s right, we need “Another One, Another Person, & Another Human Being” to experience relationship.
- Disagreements happen. It is fact, not fiction. It is truth, not falsehood. It is painful, not calm. Nevertheless, even though we may “agree to disagree, and we may learn to respect the other’s ideas, and we may seek to create a “newness,” a place where we reach the decision to walk toward a “new way of doing things,” the way we approach our disagreements can help us grow.
The Bible says—
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, . . .”
(Colossians 3: 12a NASB)
Stop right there for a second. Did we catch how the apostle Paul just identified one of the “you” within a disagreement?
- If one of the “persons” involved within the relationship is a Christian,
- if one of the “persons” is a student of the Bible, and
- if one of the “persons” identifies his identity with God—
THEN THERE IS HOPE FOR THE RELATIONSHIP TO BE RESTORED BECAUSE GOD’S CHILDREN ARE CALLED TO WEAR THE NECESSARY GARMENTS, WHICH WILL HELP LEAD TWO INDIVIDUALS TO RESTORATION.
The Bible tells us exactly HOW this is possible—
“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: 12-14 NASB)
- Disagreements will happen.
- Disagreements will happen—when two people are involved in a relationship.
- Disagreements happen. It is fact, not fiction. It is truth, not falsehood. It is painful, not calm.
Nevertheless—THERE IS HOPE FOR THE RELATIONSHIP TO BE RESTORED!
Because—GOD’S CHILDREN ARE CALLED TO WEAR THE NECESSARY GARMENTS, WHICH WILL HELP LEAD TWO INDIVIDUALS TO RESTORATION!
We who follow Christ Jesus have been given a “life calling,” an “ultimate calling” despite the career path we follow.
See with me (again) what the Bible says—
“Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
(Colossians 3: 14-15 NASB)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body;
and be thankful”
- Unfortunately, disagreements do happen.
- When disagreements happen, it’s when two people are involved in a relationship.
- Truly disagreements happen to all of us. It is fact, not fiction. It is truth, not falsehood. It is painful, not calm.
Nevertheless—when they (disagreements) do come to our relationships—THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE FOR THE RELATIONSHIP TO BE RESTORED & HIS NAME IS JESUS!
- As God’s children, we are called to clothe ourselves with qualities Jesus demonstrated.
- As God’s children, we are called to wear the same garments JESUS HIMSELF wore.
- As God’s children, we are called to be “forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave [each of us].”
- As God’s children, we are to “put on love” & to “let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts.”
Finally, as God’s children, we are called to “be thankful” because the restoration of all disagreements is always possible—BECAUSE OF THE OVERFLOWING, MOST-AMAZING, LOVE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE FATHER!