Put On Charity - Colossians 3:14

As Paul the apostle continued his list of ways the Christians in Colosse were to behave, he included “forbearing and forgiving one another” in addition to “bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering;”. In chapter three and verse fourteen Paul adds another characteristic with is “above” all the others where we read:

“And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”

The verse begins, “And above all these things put on charity,” Paul begins with the word “And” which denotes a continuance to the list he formerly provided. He then gave priority to his next trait by writing “above all these things” or “beyond, over and exceeding” everything stated before “put on” which again means "to sink into, or cloth one's self” “charity” which is the Greek word “agape” and means “affection, good will, benevolence and unconditional love”. The quality of “unconditional love” was to be in the church members of Colosse, and this trait would be the covering through which all the others were to be manifested.

The verse goes on to say, “which is the bond of perfectness.” Paul gave the reason for them to “put on charity” as he wrote “which is the bond” or “binding, banding or bundling together like glue” “of perfectness” which means “moral and spiritual maturity”. “Charity” would be the agent by which the church members of Colosse would be unified, and as they exhibited it, they would grow in their maturity with one another and with God.

Perhaps among all the ways of the Lord to “put on”, “charity” or “unconditional love” is the one most talked about and discussed and yet the one the least exhibited. “Charity” comes easy as long as no one upsets or goes against us, but when their ways and directions become different than ours, “Unconditional love” is not as easy. With all these ways to “put on” we must remember that it is the Lord Jesus who not only saved us but is able to give the ability to be the way He wants us to be. If we are ever to truly know the “bond of perfectness”, we must “put on charity”, and when we do, we will find a binding and maturity among others that we have never known before.

Next time Paul writes to the Colossians concerning “peace”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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