You Look Poor

Read Colossians 3:12-4:1

Chosen, holy, loved. Unwanted, sinful, rejected. I usually feel more like the second list than the first. So I have to remind myself that the Lord has not only forgiven me, but given me a new identity. Because we have been raised with Christ, we are officially God's people. So we should dress accordingly. When our communities are marked by compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, we look like Jesus. Love is what holds the outfit together. Love means we've already decided to respond to difficult people with forbearance and hurtful people with forgiveness. The reasons we turn against each other change, but the human impulse to join a faction and divide a church is persistent. The Colossians fought over what to eat and which festivals to celebrate. We fight over worship styles and politics. Two unusual questions could help us resolve these fights: Am I grateful? Am I seeking God's peace? Fights can't continue when everyone is seeking each other's good. One reason we fight is that we're sending each other outraged memes from warring social groups. But what if the word of Christ made its home among us? We would share Bible studies, meet up to discuss God's Word, and even burst out into singing worship songs together. It sounds like a round of Kumbaya by the fire. Fake friendliness. But consider again the value of being raised from the dead because of God's ultimate sacrifice. What if we lived in gratitude together for this miracle? The real test comes after church ends. It's easy to sing a moving song together in an air-conditioned auditorium. But Paul says that the Lordship of Jesus extends to every relationship at all times. So we keep asking, "Does this decision look like the one Jesus would make if he was in my position?" and "Can I thank God for giving me the grace to live like this?" If that's our mindset, it reverses the cultural expectations. In an unprecedented way, Paul speaks to the traditionally subordinate person first, which gives honor to wives, children, and slaves. Wives were expected to submit, but Paul adds a twist: "as is fitting in the Lord." Children were expected to obey, but now it is with the qualified "to please the Lord." Slaves were expected to do as they were told, but now their ultimate concern is to "fear the Lord" rather than a human authority. Because God is the ultimate authority, the person with less power never loses the right to live with integrity. To the person with more power, Paul emphasizes the obligation to serve. Husbands must love their wives and are forbidden from any kind of harsh treatment. Fathers must not exasperate their children. Instead of breaking their hearts, they are to fill them with love. Masters cannot take advantage of slaves, but must be just and fair, knowing that God is their Master. If we want to gain power over others so we can get our way, then Paul's requirements will feel oppressive. But we aren't wearing those shoddy clothes anymore. God has dressed us so we look like Jesus.