Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
This passage of scripture teaches us how to manage the petty differences which arise amongst us from time to time, by which a root of bitterness is cultivated, only to bear fruit in alienation and grudges, which become harder and more difficult to let go, with the passage of time. As the servants of Christ we are never to think that because we all claim The Lord Jesus as Savior, that we will always be in agreement with everything that takes place in the operation of the church. There are different minds which bring different perspectives to the table, and we should all be willing to find the most common ground of resolution, without sacrificing godly principle in the process.
Our passage for today mentions some of the elements that are needed in our characters which would enable us to put our petty differences aside, in favor of the greater good, and prominent among them are kindness, humility, forbearance, and forgiveness. In our interactions with each other it is of paramount importance that kindness be manifested, even when there may be determined disagreement on certain issues. But in order for kindness to be exercised in a genuine and uniform manner, we will need a dose of humility, by which self will be extracted from the equation, thus allowing for God's will to be made known and done.
Last but not least is the important essential of a forgiving spirit, by which insults, sarcasm, variance, and alienation can all be quenched. Some of us tend to hold onto old grudges way too long, and in the process we do great harm to the cause of Christ, to others, and also to ourselves. An instance of this order had obtained between the disciples of Christ, as the issue of who should be the greatest in the kingdom began to take root. As they discussed the idea of personal greatness, an unsettling uneasiness began to develop, and it continued to fester until open argument and alienation threatened to the disturb the peace Christ came to give. Let's read:
Mark 9:33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? 34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
The effect of this unbridled alienation had imperceptibly affected the disciples of Christ in very negative ways they knew not of, for it had interfered with their ability to understand and receive some of the most sacred truths Christ desired to share with them. At this time the most solemn revelation about His pending sacrifice was revealed to them, but because of the mismanagement of their petty differences, it was lost upon their minds, and instead, an unexplained fear and dread of the future took hold of them. Let's read:
Mark 9:31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. 32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
This same scenario is often repeated in our day when because of settled differences and varying opinions that are held on to by some very tenaciously, the sacred truths of God's word that are given to instruct, warn, and encourage us, are lost upon many minds, and just as it was with the disciples of old, we fail of understanding their relevance and import to our day. The lack of an awareness of the soon return of Christ by many Christians, can be traced back to problems of infighting and unresolved differences taking place between competing factions.
When there is strife for the highest church positions, and when alienation and a spirit of non co-operation are cultivated as a result, then the unity which Christ ardently sought and prayed for in His followers, becomes non-existent, being impeded by an unforgiving spirit, and a lack of genuine humility. It is therefore necessary that we cultivate the active Christian virtues as outlined in our passage for today, for whatever might be our profession of godliness, it all boils down to love, and the disposition to cultivate the unity of The Spirit in the bond of peace. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which confirms this sacred truth, and it is the will of God that serious efforts by the grace of God, be now made towards this end. Let's read:
1st Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study and practice of His every word. God bless!