One is startled by all the ugly things that Paul listed in this chapter of Colossians: sexual immorality, indecency, lust, evil passions and greed (for greed is a form of idolatry), anger, passion and hateful feelings, insults, obscene talk and lying to each other. Paul is, after all, writing to a congregation of the church of Christ. Is it possible that these things were done by members of the church? Seemingly so; otherwise, why would Paul find it necessary to write about them? Let us be honest, many of these things are still present among Christian people today.

 

His next list sounds a lot better, but do not think it is easier to do good than it is to refrain from doing bad things. Paul names compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance and forgiveness. Also, to be thankful, and to teach and instruct one another with wisdom. The first list contains things to avoid and the second list is things that should be done by each of us.

 

The metaphor that Paul uses here to help us understand is something we do every day: changing clothes. The old self, with its habits, should be taken off like an old, dirty robe and be replaced by our new self, like a brand-new set of clothes. It is important to first shed the old dirty clothes, as one cannot put on new clean clothes over the dirty ones. We must first get rid of things like greed, anger, passion and lying to each other. To be honest, very often, we still wear these dirty old clothes. Only by taking them off will there be room for the clean clothes of compassion, kindness, humility and tolerance. But even then, we need something else that is very important.

 

“And to all these qualities add love.” The positive things that are mentioned are our everyday clothes, but to have a complete spiritual outfit, we need the beautiful coat of love. Paul said that this coat “binds all things together in perfect unity”. That is the most important of all our clothes. We must love one another, for then we will be as God wants us to be.

 

Prayer: Lord God, we stand before you today to plead with you to help us avoid all the bad things and to be busy with that which you expect of us. Amen