"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." NKJV, Col 3:12-13.
These verses describe the characteristics people should see in the Christian: tender mercy or compassion, kindness or gentleness benevolence and a lack of abrasiveness, especially to those who tax our patience. We should be people of humility, having a humble mind with no arrogance and a real concern for others. Meekness in our verses above does not imply weakness but someone who knows the power and strength they have in Jesus Christ but has their emotions under control. The Christian should be long suffering, patient, bearing with and enduring what others do and say. We are called to be forgiving, walk in God's love (verse 14) and be at peace (verse15). Sounds like a tall order but: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Phil 4:13)
The epistle of James in the Bible has much to say about our words, the things we say to each other. We are told to guard our mouths ( James 3: 2-12) and bless others with our words (James 4:11). James 3:17, is pertinent here: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."
If this describes God's wisdom surely it should describe our wisdom or words. Our words should be pure or clean, innocent and chaste. They should bring peace be gentle or fair, moderate and considerate, nor harsh, sarcastic or abrasive. In our words we should be willing to yield or be humble, submit, concede or change when we are in error. Our words need to be full of mercy or compassion, pity and kindness, words full of good fruits that bless, encourage and enhance the hearer. Finally all the words we speak must be impartial, without prejudice and lack any hypocrisy but be straight forward and sincere. Wow, we surely need to think before we speak!
"For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” Luke 7:28, NKJV.
Think about that verse
for a moment. John the Baptist was the greatest of prophets and we know that John announced and prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus on this earth. John however lived under the old testament covenant.
We as Christians, children of God and members of His Kingdom, live with all the benefits of our new testament relationship with God. Lets reflect on that relationship!
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food." Hebrews 5:12, NKJV. The writer of the book of Hebrews exhorted his readers to grow up in their Christian life. They were born again but stuck on the basics of salvation, baptism, faith and other foundational aspects of Christianity. As Christian we need to be immersed in the Word of God, allowing God to teach us and grow us so that we can walk in all He has for us, all His blessings and all He has for us to do. We are His hands, His feet and His voice in this earth., His ambassadors, His witnesses. Amen.