Loved. Now, Live

Loved, now Live
Colossians 3:12–13

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 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.”

On Sunday, we talked about living in a godly manner inside the home. Often, our family gets the worst version of us once we let down our guard. But as we begin this week, I want to remind us that godliness is not something Christians add to their lives to impress God. It flows from the grace and love God has already given us.

Before Paul tells us what to put on—compassion, kindness, humility, and patience—he reminds us who we are. Chosen: God has made us his own. Holy: We are set apart for his purposes. Beloved: We are deeply loved and known by him.

What we do flows from our confidence in who we are. As beloved sons and daughters of God, we live out what we have received. We show compassion because God has shown us compassion. We are kind because God has been kind to us. We forgive because we have been forgiven!

As I have said throughout this series, godliness lives from God’s approval, not for it. Secure in his love, we are free to live for the sake of others.

You are loved. In response to that love, live as Christ lived!

Loved. Now, live!