The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "CLOTHED IN LOVE" for Wednesday, 15 June 2016 with Scripture Colossians 3:12-17

The Upper Room Daily Devotional from Nashville, Tennessee, United States "CLOTHED IN LOVE" for Wednesday, 15 June 2016 with Scripture Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion and with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with one another; if anyone has a complaint against someone else, forgive him. Indeed, just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive.

14 Above all these, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together perfectly; 15 and let the shalom which comes from the Messiah be your heart’s decision-maker, for this is why you were called to be part of a single Body.
And be thankful — 16 let the Word of the Messiah, in all its richness, live in you, as you teach and counsel each other in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude to God in your hearts. 17 That is, everything you do or say, do in the name of the Lord Yeshua, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
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One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.[Proverbs 17:9 (NRSV)]
My friend Marie had worked for a company for many years. She was efficient and well liked, and her work was impeccable. However, her position was given to the niece of a new board member, and Marie had no choice but to pack up and leave. Before she left, however, Marie cleaned up her computer files and made them accessible to the new employee. She dusted and cleaned her bookshelves, leaving newly sharpened pencils plus markers in a colorful receptacle. She made a short guidebook of helpful hints for the new worker, and on her last day she thanked the people who had given her the job initially.
“But why would you do that for them when they let you go for no reason?” I questioned.
“I am going to leave as a Christian,” she said. “I want my name to be associated with kindness and to show the love I always felt at my job.”
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul speaks of the “clothes” that followers of Christ are to wear: compassion, kindness, humility, forgiveness, love, with love being “above all.” Marie left her place of employment with kindness. She was wearing all the right “clothes” and showed us the power of forgiveness and of Christ’s love.
The Author: Jean L. Croyle (Pennsylvania, USA)
Thought for the Day: When I replace anger with forgiveness, God gives me peace.
Prayer: Creator God, even in adverse circumstances, help us to share your love and grace with everyone around us. Amen.
Prayer focus: SOMEONE WHO HAS RECENTLY LOST A JOB

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