Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians 3:12
When asked what the most important commandment is in Matthew 22, Jesus explained that the second greatest command is “Love your neighbor as yourself” (verse 39). Indeed, loving our neighbors is one of the most essential things that followers of Christ can do while we live on this earth. Loving our neighbors means having compassion and care for the people we encounter. This kind of compassion is what we are called to display as Christ followers, and it is the type of compassion we ought to look for when it comes to the people we surround ourselves with.
Paul calls us to be people who treat those around us with compassion in Colossians 3. This is a chapter where Paul talks about the new lives that we have in Christ. Because of what Christ has done for us, Paul wrote, “You must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (verse 12). Notice the language that Paul uses in this verse. To “clothe” ourselves means to literally put on mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience in such a way that others around us see all of these character traits. When we clothe ourselves in Christlike mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, we cannot help but model each one of these character traits. These characteristics are second nature to us when we "dress" ourselves this way. As we live in compassion, the people around us take notice and are pointed to Christ, who is merciful, kind, humble, gentle, and patient.
When it comes to the way you treat people, are you acting in compassion, treating the people around you with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and compassion? Are you teaching your children to live this way, to? Are you surrounding yourself with those who also live compassionately and encouraging your children to look to surround themselves with compassionate, loving people? May each one of us understand the value of living in compassion, surrounding ourselves with compassionate people, and teaching the children in our lives to do the same.
Take a few moments to pray. As you pray, ask God to give you compassion for the people around you. Ask Him to help you view the people around you with His love, care, and concern for them. As you interact with the people around you, commit to showing His love and compassion to everyone you encounter. As you do these things, you will model Christlike compassion for the children in your lives.
Colossians 2:1-17
1 I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally. 2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 I am telling you this so no one will deceive you with well-crafted arguments. 5 For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you. And I rejoice that you are living as you should and that your faith in Christ is strong.
6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. 9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
11 When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. 12 For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.
©2025 Sagebrush Church
