TLIC Family. Day 295. October 22: Above all put on love.

THINK TOGETHER

How many layers of clothes will you wear today? What will those layers be?

READ TOGETHER

Where I live it is starting to get colder outside. Soon when we go outside we will need a jacket or coat. As kids run outside to play, moms and dads will be saying to their children, “Don’t forget your coat.”

Just like your parents or teacher might tell you to bundle up on the outside, Paul is saying something similar to us about our inside. Our heart. Listen to how he tells the Colossian Christians to “bundle up” with the character traits of Jesus, and most importantly to put on Jesus’ love:

Colossians 3:12-14. ¹² Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³ bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. ¹⁴ And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

When Paul tells us to “put on” he’s using the idea of putting clothes on. He’s telling us to bundle up with the shirt of compassion – feeling what other people feel.

And the sweater of humility – stop thinking only about yourself.

And the hat and gloves of meekness and patience – putting up with the things others do to you.

And don’t forget your boots of bearing with others – caring about the needs of others.

Or your snow pants of forgiveness – not holding grudges against others.

Oh and over it all put on your big puffy coat of love – seeking what is best for others.

Now you’re starting to dress like Jesus.

Now you’re loving like God loves. Love that doesn’t worry about ourselves and what we get, but love that cares about others and what they get. Love that wants others to know how much God loves them. Love that flow from how much God loves us. Love for others that comes from Jesus’ love for us. The more we trust in Jesus’ love for us, a love that would die on the cross for us, the more we will want to put on his love for others too.

And the more we all choose to love each other like Jesus does, the more we will see the “perfect harmony” that Paul is talking about. Everyone working together to make the world a better place from the love of God and the kindness of Jesus.

Because of Jesus we will always be loved by our compassionate and forgiving God.

With Jesus we can put on his love for others too.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Get bundled up together. How many layers of clothes can you put on? Talk about how Jesus wants us to get bundled up with his love.

And here’s a good song from Colossians 3.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus,

You always love me perfectly. You are always compassionate, humble, meek, and patient. You forgave me and you choose to stay with me no matter what. Help me to let you live this same way through me today.

Amen.

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