Colossians 3:13

Colossians 3:13

… while enduring one another and while forgiving one another should anyone have a complaint against another.  Just as the Lord also forgave you all, in the same manner also each other.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Today we hear about endurance.  I don’t think that this word is used lightly by Paul.  Living among other people and their individuality can be tiresome.  Living among their sinfulness can wear people down.  We do need to endure one another.  As an introvert, I often find myself being worn down by the people around me.  But Paul wants to make sure that we don’t give up.  This is especially true in the discipleship process.  In discipleship, we will get worn down as disciples learn and make mistakes.  We should not give up on others as God never gives up on us.

What does it mean to you that God never gives up on us?  How do you imitate this behavior?

Second Thought:

The rest of the verses for today speak about forgiveness.  We need to be a people about forgiveness.  The reality is that we will have complaints with one another.  Other people will get on our nerves.  Other people will push our buttons.  Other people will make mistakes.  Other people will sin against us.  It isn’t a possibility, it is a reality.

When are you forgiving?  When are you least likely to forgive?

Third Thought:

Of course, as we talk about forgiveness we must remember that God first forgave us.  We are not without sin.  We are not without mistakes.  God first forgave us.  The reality is that we will never be asked to forgive other people as much as God is asked to forgive us – and them.  If God forgives and we are following Him, how can we not forgive?

How has God forgiven you?  When has God forgiven you?  What does that forgiveness feel like?

Passage for Tomorrow: Colossians 3:14-15