Our slow, but I pray edifying, walk through Colossians 3:12-17 continues this coming Lord’s Day as we examine verse 13. In this verse, the Apostle Paul exhorts us to both bear with each other, and to forgive one another in the very way that we have each experienced these blessings in our Lord Jesus.

Another way to consider this verse is to recognize its connection to what has preceded it. As we have seen, in verse 12, Paul has commanded the Lord’s people to “put on” the new ‘clothes’ of their new life in Christ—a new wardrobe consisting of five blessed virtues that are to be on display within the Church as we relate to one another. In verse 13, we will learn how these five virtues are put into practical action. Namely, when we “put on” our new clothing, we should find ourselves more readily “bearing with one other and forgiving each other,” and in this beautiful way we display the reality and transforming power of the Gospel!

We will also give some serious consideration to what these two actions, “bearing” and “forgiving,” mean and require. I hope you will be able to reflect once again on this amazing passage (3:12-17) as you prepare your heart for worship!