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How to Wear the Right Clothes

This is not a fashion blog. But these clothes are even more important than the ones in your closet.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one anther. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Col. 3:12-14)
Paul is speaking clearly to Christians here. How do we know? He calls them God’s chosen people, holy, and dearly loved.

He then tells these Christians to put on undergarments of:

• compassion
• kindness
• humility
• gentleness
• patience

Although these characteristics are part of us, they all relate to other people. I don't have compassion for myself. Rather, I have it for others. When I have kindness or patience for or with someone, it is not condescending, nor does it take willpower or effort on my part.

In verse 14, Paul tells the believers to put on love, and he gives them an opportunity to practice the character and qualities of this underwear. How?

“Bear with each other.”
“Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.”
“Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

The instruction to bear with each other prevents annoyance and any grievance. Bearing with each other keeps attitude sins from happening.

Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. This takes place after a grievance has occurred. There is no hint that the source of the grievance is a sin. It might not be. The grievance may be the other person’s idiosyncrasies. If it is a sin, it should be forgiven, whether or not that person confesses it. This charge is directed to one another. It is a two-way command. The obvious places are between husbands and wives, church members, roommates, and co-workers.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you. This does not mean, “Do not forgive him until he repents or at least says he repents.” Yes, we are to forgive him when he says he repents. "If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him" (Luke 17:4). However, his repentance is not a required condition for forgiving him.

Now we put on the outer garments of love. Get dressed properly every morning.

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