Colossians 3:12-17 TPT Love One Another
12 You are always and dearly loved by God! So robe yourself with virtues of God, since you have been divinely chosen to be holy. Be merciful as you endeavor to understand others, and be compassionate, showing kindness toward all. Be gentle and humble, unoffendable in your patience with others. 13 Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. 14 For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark [girdle] of true maturity.
15 Let your heart be always guided by the peace of the Anointed One, who called you to peace as part of his one body. And always be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ live [grow] in you richly, flooding you with all wisdom. Apply the Scriptures as you teach and instruct one another with the Psalms, and with festive praises, and with prophetic songs given to you spontaneously by the Spirit, so sing to God with all your hearts!
17 Let every activity [commitment] of your lives and every word that comes from your lips be drenched with the beauty of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One. And bring your constant praise to God the Father because of what Christ has done for you!
Virtue has to do with goodness; a righteous inner disposition. Who we are at the core of our being will flow outward; our personal character traits motivate our actions. We are to put on the likeness of Christ by embracing the virtues taught to us from the Word of God. Things like faith, hope, love, wisdom, the practice of self-control, joy, courage, faithfulness, and peace. As we grow in these things, spiritual maturity rises up within us. It isn’t the number of years we have been attending church or how long we have claimed to be a Christian that makes us spiritually mature. It is our willingness, in the power of the Spirit, to apply the Word of God to our lives and practice righteous virtues. We can find real peace—inner rest and harmony—as we pursue maturity or holiness in Christ. It all begins with a spirit of gratitude for what Christ has done for us.
Prayer: Lord, create goodness in me and as you do I will act more like Jesus. Help me to practice your love by practicing self-control and peace will mark my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.