Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Thursday after Cantate

Posted on May 6, 2021 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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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 Christian life is more than abstaining from sin. That is a necessary first part; we cannot continue to live in sin, but must daily fight and put temptation aside the moment it strikes. Paul says in Colossians 3:5 that we are to put to death our earthly members: “fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” The old man includes anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy language (Col. 3:8). These things must be daily put away, as often as they tempt us.
 
The second part is that we “put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:10). To put on the New Man is to put on “tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering,” so that we bear with one another and forgive those who sin against us. The New Man loves his neighbor as he loves himself. Living in God’s grace and the forgiveness of sins, he has peace with God and is thankful that God has made him His son.
 
The New Man also lets the Word of Christ dwell richly in him. He puts God’s Word into his heart through his ears and eyes. This strengthens his own faith, but also gives him something with which to encourage others. Finally, the New Man fulfills his vocations in Jesus’ name and to His glory, since Jesus has made him new.
 
Prayer: 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. Amen.
 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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