“Let your daily actions witness: Christ will come again” - Day 2

Colossians 3:12

12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

The wardrobe of the new kingdom includes clothing made ready by God for the beloved children of God. Clothing that those who live in the hope that Christ will come again wear. Just as we get dressed everyday, we put on these clothes everyday.

Compassion is in short supply in our world. The refrain frequently expressed goes like this: Those who are having hard times are having hard times due to their own fault. They did something wrong and they are getting what they deserve. But Christians who have seen the promise of every tear wiped from every eye – live by the pattern of compassion present in the coming kingdom.

Kindness – Christians practice the kindness of God in a world that is tough and hard, demanding and difficult. In so doing they bear witness to the values of the kingdom that Jesus is bringing when he comes again.

Humility – Jesus lived his life in humility, humbling himself to become a servant, to become poor, to live in lowliness in our midst. His coming kingdom is one where the servant is the most highly honoured, and the person regarded as the least is in fact the greatest.

Meekness – Those who look forward to the coming kingdom are well aware that they know only in part what the kingdom will be like. They practice speaking with meekness about the details of the coming kingdom. They live faithful in this moment, trusting God for the future.

Patience – Waiting is hard, but as we wait our lives are shaped ever more deeply around the promise that Christ will come again. In our waiting we are patient with ourselves, as we are gradually made more like Jesus. In our patience we are patient with others, for patience is part of compassion and kindness.  

Daily we put on these clothes, bearing witness to the truth Christ will come again.

PRAYER:

Lord God, you have made wonderful garments for us to put on. Help us wear them in such a way that they bear witness to the promise that your Son, Jesus Christ will come again. In Jesus’ name. Amen.