Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12, NLT)
I believe God will be pleased with us during and after the turbulent time. The reason is that we represent His love and likeness in a time of darkness.
In a turbulent time, trials and tests will happen in many areas of life. Various aspects such as the moral foundation of a nation, the wisdom and economic strength of the country, the humanitarian spirit of the society, the faith of God’s people, the true spirit and culture of government leaders would be on trials. My question is, what could we do to improve ourselves as an individual in this time of crisis? So that after all the trial and testing, God would be pleased with our Christian’s character.
I like the way Paul put it, first of all, we are to recognise God’s love and His plan. It is God that chose us to be His holy people whom He loves. When God chose us to be His kingdom citizens, we automatically inherited the rights as all citizens would receive. With these rights and privileges, we need to step up and serve according to God’s grace, gifting and wisdom which He placed on each individual. We are not to abuse the rights He entrusted us but to use it wisely, and to bless one another.
Secondly is, to make a decision and clothe ourselves with the garment of righteousness, which in most ways, manifest the behaviours and characteristics of our Lord Jesus. Paul describes it as tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. In short, it is all the qualities of love (1 Corinthians 13). I believe God will be pleased with us during and after the turbulent time. The reason is that we represent His love and likeness in a time of darkness.
A true story happened a few days ago. While panic shoppers were crowding at a shopping centre, frantically grabbing their essentials, especially toilet rolls. A ninety-plus aged man tried to secure one packet. Since he is too old, slow in movements and weak, he stood no chance. Eventually, he is pushed aside by the crowd. One lady who was helping her aunt took notice of this man. She got hold of one extra packet of toilet rolls and handed it to him. She then found out that he is a holocaust survivor. This man left the crowd with a heart filled with gladness. He was deeply touched by a kindhearted lady.
A true story could inspire us to demonstrate tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Let us clothe ourselves with Love—God is love.
Let us pray:
Dear God, thank You for choosing me to be Your holy people. It’s Your love that I could stand a chance to enjoy kingdom citizenship. I ask for spiritual understanding and wisdom to practice Your Word, instructions and policies for these are the Constitution of the Kingdom of Heaven. Holy Spirit, teach me to clothe myself with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Remind me, dear Lord, that I’m placed on earth to represent You, to reintroduce Love—God is love. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!