A Different Approach

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. - Colossians 3:12-14

Earlier this week we've looked at Genesis 37 and the remarkably dysfunctional family of Jacob and his twelve sons. As Pastor Kristy pointed out on Sunday, there's a different approach to relationships that Jesus offers us. It's not complicated but that doesn't mean it's easy. It's definitely not easy, but it's good.

The Apostle Paul summarizes this new approach in the passage above. Notice first (and this is crucial to avoiding legalism) that the assumption of Paul's commands are that you are deeply grounded in being "chosen, holy, and dearly loved." Then, out of that sense of your own belatedness, you begin to imitate Jesus in your relationships. 

Take some time and write down the implications for your relationships if you lived out what Paul talks about in this passage. Pray for the courage to live that way today.