Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - Kansas City, Missouri, United States - "Source of Compassion" Sunday, 25 January 2015 - Scripture: Colossians 3:6-15

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - Kansas City, Missouri, United States - "Source of Compassion" Sunday, 25 January 2015 - Scripture: Colossians 3:6 God is angry with people who disobey him by doing[a] these things. 7 And that is exactly what you did, when you lived among people who behaved in this way. 8 But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others. 9 And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits.
10 Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better. 11 It doesn’t matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian,[b] and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12 God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. 13 Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. 14 Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.
15 Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.[Footnotes:
3.6 people who disobey him by doing: Some manuscripts do not have these words.
3.11 a barbarian or a Scythian: Barbarians were people who could not speak Greek and would be in the lower class of society. Scythians were people who were known for their cruelty.]
"Source of Compassion" by Phil Pinckard
How may we “clothe” ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience? By believing, understanding, and embracing our identity in Christ. Paul told the Colossians that they were chosen by God, and that they were holy and dearly loved for their relationship with God. We are reminded that we are loved, freed, and transformed for service to God and Him alone.
Author Roger Gottlieb writes: “Our lives will be far happier, in an enduring and deep way, and we will be a lot more fun to be around, if we seek to live by certain virtues. To the extent that we choose to be mindful, accepting, grateful, compassionate, and loving, our own contentment will grow and our interpersonal behavior will be increasingly caring, respectful, and just.”*
Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience are components of Christian holiness. John Wesley wrote: “Always, remember the essence of Christian holiness is simplicity and purity; one design, one desire, entire devotion to God.”**[[* Roger S. Gottlieb, Spirituality: What It Is and Why It Matters, London: Oxford University Press, 2012.][** W. Stephen Gunter, The Quotable Mr. Wesley, Atlanta: Candler School of Theology, Emory University, 2003, 1]]
Hymn for Today: "Simple Gifts Lyrics" by 0Joseph Brackett (1797–1882) Shaker dancing song
1. Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 
  'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
2. When true simplicity is gain'd, 
  To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,
To turn, turn will be our delight, 

  Till by turning, turning we come 'round right
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