TLIC FAMILY. DAY 295. OCTOBER 22: 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:

Colossians 3:12-14. ¹²Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, ¹³bearing 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. ¹⁴And 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 others.

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

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 the 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. 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.

Because of Jesus we will always be loved by 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.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, you always love me perfectly. Help me to let you live this same way through me today. Amen.