MARKS OF A CHRISTIAN
Born totally white, a Dalmatian puppy does not get his spots until the second week of life. The pup is not born with the marks of a Dalmatian. When does a Christian get his or her "spots", and what is the nature of the spots? Colossians 3:5-17 summarizes the process of transformation.
A Commitment to Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit encourages us to begin the process of disrobing sins such as " fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry)". We also begin to loose " anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from our mouths" We cease to lie to one another.
Instead we "clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience". We learn to "bear with one another." if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, [we must] clothe ourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
The believer makes choices in what pieces of ragged clothing they discard or which new clothing they don, but it is the action of the Holy Spirit that allows the transaction to take place. If I had thirty years of experience with filthy language and made a decision to never use any again, by my own strength I would not last long before my tongue would once again slip. But by turning it over to the Lord and letting it go, asking forgiveness for each transgression, there would be permanent change. Many years ago I had a quick temper and prayed often for the Lord's help. I cried many bitter tears over my temper. Then one day I realized that I seldom lost my temper and most things that used to make me mad just amused me. I didn't know when the change had taken place, but I found that I could "let the peace of Christ rule in my heart", I could "be thankful."
Many tend to think of virtues such as compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience along with other fruit of the spirit as emotional feelings, but for the Christian they are expected actions. We act with kindness, compassion, humbly, meekly, and patiently and how we feel about it at any given time is not of key importance.
Forgiveness is also an act of will and not simply an emotional response. When young I considered my self an "easy forgiver." Most of the time I was simply forgetful, looking forward and not back and apologies would come that I couldn't remember the offense. But a day came that some truly horrible events happened. These experiences would never be forgotten; how could they be forgiven? By an act of the will, then leaving the forgiveness in Jesus' hands and not expecting emotional release it was accomplished. Eventually there was emotional healing and a true release, but it took many years. In the meantime there was a contract with the Lord that the choice of forgiveness had been made.
There were things I could have done to potentially hasten the inner healing. I could have stopped rehearsing the situation that had brought such pain and I could have done more praying for the blessing of the perpetrators. Some of those lessons came later in life.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." These last verses of the selection give the key to continued growth and purity of life. If everything we do we know that Jesus is present with us then we will make good choices and the love of Christ will shine through us.
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