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Colossians
3:12-17 (NRSV) 3:12 As God's chosen ones, holy and
beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and
patience. 3:13 Bear with one another and, if anyone
has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has
forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 3:14 Above all, clothe yourselves with
love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in
your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be
thankful. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in
your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him. It’s New
Year’s Eve, and as we gather in our church this morning I’m
reminded that 2006 not only ends on a Sunday, it also began on a Sunday. Not a bad pair of bookends for a year,
if you ask me. But I know that
such holidays are apt to put us in a particular mood. I don’t doubt that many of you
have already spent some time being reflective about the past year. We remember the good times, and lock
such memories in our heart to keep as treasure. We also consider the regrets and
disappointments that were known.
Perhaps in some of those experiences we had little to no control over
the situation. But such
reflections still make us question what we could have done differently. On the other hand we find ourselves
looking ahead to 2007. Those who
are so inclined will make their list of New Year’s Resolutions. And perhaps those who are a little
better inclined will actually see that list through to fruition. But I think we like to acknowledge
this date on the calendar, if for no other reason than we can appreciate the
opportunity of a do-over. It’s the chance to begin with a
clean slate, to start fresh, and so we look forward with an inclination to
improving ourselves and our situations.
That’s why we make resolutions, whether we write them down or
– like myself – tend to deny we make them even as we’re
considering them in the back of our mind. Because whether what we knew in 2006
was good or bad, we want to hope that 2007 can in some way be a little bit
better. If there was a way to
make next year better, wouldn’t you want to take it? Today Paul has offered us, in his letter
to the Colossians, such a possibility – a New Year’s resolution,
if you will. Resolve, that in the
coming year, the peace of Christ will govern your life, by clothing yourself
with Christ. Peace –
there’s a concept we hear a lot about these days. We’ve just come through the
Advent season and are now in the midst of Christmastide. Peace
on Earth, peace and goodwill to men,
are phrases that we inscribe on our greeting cards and recite in the Biblical
Christmas narrative. We wish
peace to one another in our blessings for the holiday and coming year. And in a time when war rages in
distant places and shadows our own land in events like 9/11 or even local
crime and violence, we all hope to see peace restored in our world. I don’t know for certain that
peace of that type can be achieved, but I am convinced that the peace Paul
speaks of, the peace of Christ, is
obtainable. And the peace of
Christ makes any other lack of peace we might have to know in this world,
somehow endurable. So how do we
achieve such peace? Consider
first to whom Paul addresses his words.
God’s chosen, holy and
beloved. Who are the chosen
of God? Scripture tells us that
it is God’s intention that everyone should be saved, that all should
experience a relationship with him.
To that end God has provided the way to salvation, through his Son,
Jesus Christ. But to truly become
God’s chosen, an individual has to accept this gift of salvation. God will not simply apply salvation,
like some label of approval, upon all mankind. He has made the way, but we must take
it. When we come, with a
repentant heart, trusting that Jesus is who he claims, trusting that his
life, death, and resurrection provide forgiveness for our sin, then we become
one of the chosen of God. As such
we are beloved by God our
Father. Also in salvation God
transforms us into holy beings, so
that we may be one with him.
Looking ahead to the New Year let those who are Christian be reminded
that we have much going for us.
We are God’s chosen, we are holy, and we are beloved of the
Father. This is where the peace
of Christ begins. But Paul
doesn’t stop there. He goes
on to instruct the chosen of God how they should clothe themselves. You know, clothing is an important
thing. It provides protection
from the elements. It
communicates to others something about us. For example, think back to last Sunday
and how we were all decked out in our Christmas sweaters, shirts, and even
– for some of us – our Christmas socks. We dress in celebration of the
holiday. If you’re going to
the beach, you have specific attire.
You put on your best outfit for an important job interview. We even tend to have certain clothes
that we wear when we’re working, as well as when we’re
relaxing. And while Paul
isn’t speaking here of clothing in the physical sense, his intent is to
communicate that how we clothe ourselves spiritually is just as important as
how we consider our physical wardrobe. And how do the
chosen of God dress? With compassion – or as the KJV
translates, “bowels of mercies”. It’s that type of mercy that, when
we see the miseries of others, we feel it so passionately in the deepest
bowels of our heart that we are moved to action. Kindness
– acting in goodness toward others. Humility
– a pure humbleness that comes from having a right understanding of
one’s place in relation to God and to others. Meekness
– thinking of others before oneself, a gentle and quiet spirit of
submission, what Peter described in the third chapter of his letter as being
“very precious in God’s sight”. (1 Peter 3:4) And patience – willing to suffer long, remaining constant and
steadfast, waiting without complaining.
And yet these
things are to be considered our “lesser” clothing, because above
all this we are to put on love.
Imagine if you will, this love is like our outermost spiritual
garment. When people see us
coming, it is love that they should very first notice about us. Or as John said, God’s disciples
will be known by their love.
(John 13:35). We’re
talking 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love here, love that is patient, kind, not
arrogant or boastful, that rejoices in truth, that bears and endures all
things – in short, love that comes only from God. And this love is what binds all our
other garments together. When we
have love, it motivates our actions, makes all the other pieces of clothing
we’ve mentioned not only possible but also makes them genuine. This type of love also binds the
chosen of God together in harmony.
For when we love, we are able to forgive one another. We can come alongside each other to
assist and hold up. We can
forebear with one other, put up with one another’s faults. And yes, we know the faults are
there. But in preparing for this
message I was reminded that just as I am tried to put of with things in
others that may get on my particular nerves, then just as surely there are
things about me which must get on other people’s nerves. And so, as Christ forgave us and
forebears with us – willingly, readily – so we forgive and
forebear with one another. And
then the peace of Christ will be evident in all our actions and interactions. Such a wardrobe
sounds like a pretty tall order, doesn’t it? Compassion, kindness, humility,
meekness, patience, love.
I’d remind you that this list is very similar to that found in
Galatians 5:22-23 – the fruits of the Spirit. And simply put, you won’t be able to clothe yourself
in such things until you have God’s Spirit abiding in your life. Paul speaks of
one final type of clothing, although this is more a type of inner spiritual
attire. The chosen of God are to let the word of Christ dwell in them
richly. What comes to mind
when you hear the word “dwell”? I tend to think of home, that place
where I’ve chosen to reside and make my own. A place where I’m comfortable, a
place I know well. This is not
some casual visitation, or even a nice long holiday. We are to let the word of Christ
– all that makes Christ known and leads to salvation and growth in
grace - take up permanent residence in our hearts. For where the word of Christ dwells,
there God himself will be. It is
also to dwell in us richly. Not
some poor, half-hearted attempt at residence, but in fullness and abundance. You know, I get
a kick out of watching the kids play those trading card games that are so
popular these days. I admit that
the logistics of it are a bit over my head, but they clearly have no problem
in obtaining all this knowledge about characters and their traits, and what
special numbers and codes on the character’s playing card means. Yes, it takes time, but they learn
it. And among our congregation we
have a wide variety of hobbies and interests represented. Hunters, who can tell you all about
how to read deer sign for tracking, and about gun and ammunition specs. A woodcarver can tell you about
various types of wood, and how things like grain or hardness affects how you
have to work with the wood, and what type of tool produces a specific style
of cut. People who like to do
genealogy learn how to search through historical documents, looking for
necessary pieces of information.
A song-writer has learned how to move words around in a particular
fashion, communicating just the right idea, while also putting it with just
the right notes of a musical scale to produce something pleasing to the
ear. And all this knowledge for
these various interests, even if it’s blessed with a bit of talent on
the side, wasn’t accumulated over night. It took time and discipline. Now if the Spirit is beginning to step
on toes, just remember that ministers are not excluded. In the 26 years that I’ve been a
Star Wars fan, I’ve read a
large number of books and could tell you the events that have happened over a
span of generations in the lives of fictional characters, or recite you the
content of the films almost verbatim.
All these things we love and enjoy, we willingly give them our time
and energy. And there’s
nothing wrong with that. But I
have to ask if we – if I – can admit to being just as willing to
give the time and energy required to allowing the word of Christ to dwell in
us richly? I am ever
amazed that the God of the universe, Creator, Lord Almighty, seeks to make
himself known to me, one of his creatures. He has done this in Christ, and he
continues to do this through his word by the power of his Spirit. For a God who has done so much to reveal
himself, is it really that much to ask that we do our part, by allowing his
word to dwell in us? For it not
only allows us to know God in ever increasing ways, but it also will allow us
to teach and admonish one another. Admonish is one
of those words we don’t like very much, because it implies that
we’ve done something wrong and thus need correcting. At times that is the situation, but
better to be admonished so that we may be led to repentance and forgiveness,
remaining one of the chosen of God. I also encourage you to consider that
admonish can likewise mean to advise, to caution, or to give council. Sometimes admonishment will draw us
back before we’ve gone too far.
And the peace of Christ is maintained in our hearts and in our
fellowship with one another. Once we are
properly clothed, both in the outward spiritual sense of attributes like
compassion, kindness, patience, and love, and in a more inward sense by
allowing the word of Christ to dwell in us richly, what might we hope to see
when we look in the mirror?
We’ll find not only a person in whom the peace of Christ rules,
but also someone that lives and breathes gratitude. When you allow the peace of Christ to
reign, it becomes almost automatic to be thankful. This is an attitude that flows forth
regardless of circumstance. Your
particular situation may be absolutely horrid, but you can still be thankful
for God’s peace – a peace which passes all understanding, a peace
that assures of salvation and removes fear of even death itself, a peace that
convinces you that with God in control things are as they should be. You can be thankful for the
relationship you share with him as a chosen of God, holy and beloved. You’ll find that as you clothe
yourself with Christ, it becomes quite natural to worship – to sing to
the glory of God from a heart where God abides. I find it
interesting that Paul speaks of singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with a grateful attitude in the same context where he tells that the members
of the Body are to teach and admonish one another. Music is an important part of our
worship because it not only allows us opportunity to praise our God but
because it allows us opportunity to be instructed in our faith. People believe what they sing.
Sometimes I like to just read through the songs in the hymnbook,
taking the time to consider what the words are actually saying. There’s a lot of good theology
in our hymnbooks, and we’d do good to adhere to it. And in working with children
I’ve long believed that one of the more important things you can do is
teach them songs about God. I
believe the Spirit can take those teachings – things like Jesus loves me, with Jesus in the boat you can smile in the storm, there’s a fountain flowing deep and
wide – and lock it into the hearts of our children even from
infancy, preparing a place where someday the peace of Christ can take up
rule. Chosen of God,
holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
meekness, patience, and love.
Allow the word of Christ to dwell in you richly. Teach and admonish one another. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual
songs to God from a grateful heart.
Do everything that you do in the name of the Lord Jesus. Be thankful. I don’t know what resolutions
you may be considering for 2007.
But I do know that a resolution to allow the peace of Christ to govern
your life, by clothing yourself with Christ, will result in a year that
abounds in thanksgiving to God the Father, through the Lord Jesus
Christ. And you don’t even
have to wait until midnight tonight to put such a resolution into
effect. You can begin right here,
right now. I challenge you to put
this resolution into practice.
See if the Lord will not honor his word. See if your coming year is not just a
little bit better because of a grace-offered choice you made today. |