The Thursday after Cantate Sunday
Posted on May 7, 2026 by under
Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17 (NKJV)
3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 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. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Devotion
The entire Christian life is defined by forgiveness and mercy. First, God showed us grace and mercy by forgiving our sins, because we certainly did nothing to earn His favor. And in return, we too should show mercy and forgiveness to each other. Surely none of the things we have done or may do to each other are worse or less forgivable than the things that we have done to God. And since God can and did forgive us, we too should be able to forgive each other.
This forgiveness brings peace where there was conflict. It can be difficult for us to forgive as Christ forgave us, but to what other standard should we aspire? And where there is peace, there should also be joy and thankfulness, because we recognize our previous condition, and appreciate our new one. This is not something that we experience for one or two hours a week, but something we experience through our whole lives as Christians. May God grant us this through His Holy Spirit.
Collect: O God, Who makest the minds of the faithful to be of one will: Grant unto Thy people that they may love what Thou commandest, and desire what Thou dost promise; that, among the manifold changes of this world, our hearts may there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
