Marked By Jesus

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Colossians 3:12-15 NASB

COMPASSION. Let us each continue on from this moment as people of compassion- The grace that you and I have received from God now needs to be extended outwards to others.….. Jesus was a friend to the friendless. He was sympathetic, kind and merciful. We are instructed to do the same.  Christ in and through us is the antidote for what ails our culture. It must be the motivation that compels us to be Kingdom people who respond in the way of the Kingdom.

When we love as Jesus does, we are willing to sacrifice as He did.  We are motivated by such a love, empowered by grace, and we walk in an aggressive faith to do Kingdom battle against dark forces that are enslaving humanity. We live a lifestyle of the Kingdom as Jesus did. Jesus Christ and His Gospel are THE answer. We, His people, possess the cure.  We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. We are filled with Holy Spirit who will encourage, empower and enable us out on His mission field - Everywhere we go, people are waiting to be healed by Jesus, set free, encouraged with God’s Word and brought into the Kingdom through salvation. 

John 17:13-17 NASB But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

SURRENDER live a life marked by surrendered self-control. Rein yourself in and don’t let the world set the agenda for how you live. The world will tell us how to live out sexuality. The world will tell us how to view material things. The world will tell us how to treat other people. Sadly, the world will tell us that in these and all other areas we have the freedom to choose and use our own rules. Our culture has become narcissistic and entitled. In other words, the world loves self. Self-love cannot heal the sicknesses of humanity, because it cannot hear and respond to lament, comfort in suffering, be present in grief and loneliness, be trusted in trouble, be an anchor in hopelessness or be a bridge in division. Self-love cannot provide empathy, kindness, community or rest. But Jesus Christ can and does provide and heal,  instead of living a life of excess, I pray by the power of Holy Spirit that we will each imitate Christ and live a life of discipline by striving to please God in these and all other areas.