Colossians 3:12

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Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Why do so many people have such a negative view of what it means to be a Christian? Or maybe I should rephrase that, why do so many people get hung up on the "don't do" lists of the Bible?

I spent more time today swallowing the amazing richness of Colossians Chapter 1, where Paul spells out the incomparable greatness of our Lord: He is the creator, the sustainer, the alpha, the omega, the judge, the savior. But as I searched for a verse to post on Facebook this morning, I couldn't get past the classic memory verse from Colossians 3:12. As I reflected on it, I kept thinking about something a friend said to me yesterday, "you don't bog yourself down, which I dig."

Too often, people zoom in on those "don't do" lists of the Scripture. Take, for example, Colossians 3:5:
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Now, this is not to diminish the importance of this incomplete list of human vices. God has no place in heaven for sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, so Christians, Paul declares, must flee from these things; those who don't aren't following Christ. To those who follow Christ, hear the message: "Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." ... "Set your mind on the things above." ... "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." ... "Let your conversation be always full of grace."




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