The Golden Chain of Christian Living, Colossians

May the mumbling commence!

What does new life in Christ look like?  What is of most value in this new life?  These are important questions.  Today, we will look at Colossians chapter three for an answer.  Read the passage below:

As, therefore, God's picked representatives of the new humanity, purified and beloved of God himself, be merciful in action, kindly in heart, humble in mind. Accept life, and be most patient and tolerant with one another, always ready to forgive if you have a difference with anyone. Forgive as freely as the Lord has forgiven you. And, above everything else, be truly loving, for love is the golden chain of all the virtues.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, remembering that as members of the same body you are called to live in harmony, and never forget to be thankful for what God has done for you.

Let Christ's teaching live in your hearts, making you rich in the true wisdom. Teach and help one another along the right road with your psalms and hymns and Christian songs, singing God's praises with joyful hearts. And whatever you may have to do, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, thanking God the Father through him. (Verses 12-17)

Love is the gold chain of Christian virtues that hangs around our necks.  This gold chain is not only of the highest value.  Love is also the chain that holds the other adornments of the Christian life – like pearls of great worth.  Be merciful, kindly, and humble.  Patience and tolerance rule.  Forgiveness is not optional.  It is integral to the Christian life.

As a part of the Christian body, we are called to live in harmony.  Note that: we live in harmony in one another.  Harmony not unison!  We are forced to be identical.  We are allowed to be ourselves.  But, in being ourselves, we are to strive to be in harmony with the rest of the body – which is being conducted by the head, Christ Jesus.

Teach and help one another.  That means that I do not know everything there is to know.  Neither do you know everything.  We are to help and teach one another so that we both may find that narrow righteous path that Christ trail blazed before us.

What are some of the tools of teaching?  Psalms, hymns and Christian spiritual songs help to define the attitude that we need – that of fellow student in a cooperative project toward Christ-likeness.  Yes, these songs that find room in our hearts and minds help to form our attitudes.

And, if our attitudes reflect Christ Jesus, then our actions will soon follow.  So that, whatever we may do, we will do in the name of the Lord Jesus with thankfulness and gratitude.  We do everything in Jesus’ name.

To do something in someone else’s name means that we are representing that person.  May all that we do honor Christ Jesus.  If Jesus does not receive honor by what we do, we must stop it or reconfigure it so that it does.     

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out