Colossians 3:12-25

I love to go for walks on my lunch hour. However, in the deep of winter, it can be a challenge. The average temperature outside often hovers around freezing. That’s about the bottom limit of my tolerance for walking outdoors! Choosing what to wear in the mornings can be difficult, knowing that I don’t want to be too uncomfortable in a heated office while wearing material thick enough to insulate against the cold. Layers in such circumstances are key—the right clothing on a cold day can be critical!

In our walk with Christ, the right “clothing” is also critical. Paul uses this metaphor to talk about our spiritual presence in the world. Being a new creation in Christ, he urges us to put off the habits and attitudes of our “old self” (v. 9) and allow ourselves to be clothed in the habits and attitudes that Christ exhibits. “Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (v. 12) should be at the forefront in our dealings with others.

Over all of this, Paul continues, we must put on love (v. 14). Love is the virtue that binds everything together in perfect unity.

Author: Judi King