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So – how is your Inner Life?
Why is our Inner Life so important to God. Maybe because it not only affects us individually, but also has an impact on those around us, and therefore the world? If we break down the passage, the first word – Therefore – that requires us to look at what was previously said. (thanks Alan)
Paul is talking about our Inner Life. Because Christ is all and in all – therefore – as the elect (chosen) of God, holy (being of one mind with God) and beloved (dearly loved) put on – clothe yourself, which means to me that we must choose to put these attributes on every day, to practice them diligently. So what do these attributes mean? Tender mercies – a heart of deep compassion (from where??) Kindness – an unselfish spirit of doing for others, the attitude of affection or goodwill. Humility – freedom from pride. To esteem others better than yourself. God humbles people to bring them to obedience
(Deut 8:2) To humble ourselves is a condition of God’s favor (2 Chron 7:14) and His supreme requirement (Micah 6:8) Meekness – power under control, free flowing forgiveness. Longsuffering, Patience – the hardest for me, but a virture God highly prizes in all of us.
How would our lives change if we were to on purpose diligently practice putting these on everyday? How would the body at CCC change? What about Smyrna, the world? Could there be an “echo” affect? I believe there can. Every act of compassion, every act of kindness, every time we put others ahead of ourselves, every time we show power under control, and every time we show patience, it will have a positive affect on someone else. Isn’t that how we show the world and each other God’s love?
It’s a lot to think about!
Thanks Odrie, I really like the way you further breakdown the attributes that Paul is talking about.
I have recently been struggling with love. This verse seems to be Paul’s way for breaking down love, into categories of attributes that will express love.
On my own, I know that I do not love people. But, Col 3:2-3 “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” If I do this…if I use this precursory verse, then clothing myself in the various attributes of love, is possible. I must overcome my addiction to self, so that I can become Christ to others. Then, and through this process, my Inner Life, will outwardly affect others.
Odrie -
It is a lot to think about, but thanks. These thoughts are getting my Monday morning and week cranked up.
This morning, I actually had to think about what I was going to wear to work (what I was going to put on). There are some days (like most of my Thursdays) where I know I’m going to be locked in my office to slam on my message — and so I may dress down. I may not think to extensively what I will put on for that day.
But today… I’m having lunch with some area pastors. I thought it wise to think about this a bit. The people I will be around actually influenced what I put on.
I’m wondering if this is the beauty and power of a small group? If I’m intentionally around a small group of people, will I think about what I will put on, spiritually (kindness, humility, meekness, patience)? Does having a small group of people around me actually push me to think more about what I put on? Will this group of people that I have allowed peeks at my inner man, hold me accountable? I think so. This is usually how it works for me.
If I don’t have a small group of people around me, do I care less about what I’m wearing?
Thoughts?
Odrie
Thanks for such words of encouragement. The phrase below is the one that hit me and caused me to pause this morning.
“Every act of compassion, every act of kindness, every time we put others ahead of ourselves, every time we show power under control, and every time we show patience, it will have a positive affect on someone else. Isn’t that how we show the world and each other God’s love?”
To put these things on is to put on Christ. This life style is us being the body of Christ. I trust I will make a conscience effort each day to cloth myself properly.
I do enjoy a good laugh. My vision of Alan standing in front of his closet trying to deciede what to wear was a wonderful laugh. I am enjoying still being in my PJ’s and it is about 10 am. I love days off. It gives me time to do things I don’t normally do but it also gets me out of a routine. It is good routine to put on ” tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering,” every morning. Another favorite passage about putting on is in Eph. you put on the full armor of God. Alan I hope you choose a good outfit today.
Thanks Odrie.
Verses like this, with lists of attributes for me to put on as though it all depended on my effort to pull myself up, always seemed to swamp me by adding to my Stuff-I-Need-To-Do-for-Jesus-Today list. What Herb reminded us of (“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”) is such a relief from the tyranny of the To-Do list for me.
I am dead, but now alive in Christ. And his life in me gives me the prompting and the potential to be compliant to all of the lists of things I’m supposed to put on. Without his life in me – I’m sunk! It’s all pretty mysterious in the way God works this out in us. But I’m eternally thankful for it.
I have to confess that I have been slacking on reading the daily bread lately. This is especially dangerous for me not to stay focused on the Word because I am a beginner in my walk and ‘true’ faith. More than ever in the last month I have felt I’ve been in the wrong hands, under the yoke of the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I have been attacked, accused, punched, and kicked back to depression. Tied to physical and earthly things that I know is the power of the evil one with 7 heads. I dont know how this all might relate to the passage, but I just wanted to say thank you Ordrie for this reminder. Christ lives within me (my inner self) and He alone has the power over the evil one, I cannot “do do do” to try and fight him off, I need Christ there with me. It is Christ who strengthens me daily. I want to be where I was a month ago in my relationship with Christ.
Lord almighty, Lord of grace and redemption, thank you! Thank you for breathing life in me. Thank you for my sisters whom you have given to me to show me that I am not alone and what these struggles are within me. Only you, dear God have the power to restore me and make me new. Cloth me with kindness, humility, love, and the ability to see through your eyes and not by my worldly sight. Thank you for hearing me, Lord.
Thank you family for allowing me to have a place to become vulnerable. Thank you again Ordrie for today’s slice of daily bread!
LB
Thanks Odrie. Yea it’s a lot to think about and a lot to aspire to. Thanks for God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness, and provision as we are transformed into His likeness. I know that the only way this transformation can happen in me is spending more time in His presence, praying, worship, studying His word, and being in real community with others that can sparpen me. Now that looks like another list (Jon)…so again, thanks for God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness, and provision as I aim towards Him…step by step.
Herb…your phrase “addiction to self” really hit me today as well. I’ve probably heard it before and have certainly thought and prayed about self-centeredness. But for some reason this phrase…”addition to self”, added another meaningful layer to how much we need Christ to get beyond our compulsion to serve ourselves. Hmmmm?
Wonderful food for thought! I believe we all have struggles in one or more of these areas – I know I do! What you call the “echo” effect I refer to as the “ripple” effect – like a stone in a pond.
Odrie,
Thanks for feeding us today.
To answer one of your thoughts. Personally and as a community if we put as much effort on clothing our inner self as we do our outer; there would be a definite and distinct effect on us and our surrounding.
Thanks Odrie for helping us to think about our inner clothing.
As I began to think through this it occurred to me that maybe some of us who follow Christ are trying to “clothe” or dress ourselves to impress each other? Maybe sometimes we dress a certain way with our talk or our actions, not because we want to be His holy people, but because we want to show people how Christian we are? Maybe we are more concerned about the Brand Designer Jesus, than we are the Designer Jesus? Just thinking…