Virtues That Promote Brotherliness: Devotion for Monday August 31, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday August 31, 2020

Topic:  Virtues That Promote Brotherliness          

Text: Colossians 3:12 – 17                  

In our text for today, Paul continued to reveal what a new man in Christ should be and the things that will promote brotherliness among Christians and how to live for God. All the virtues that Paul encourages us to develop (to put on) are perfectly bound together by love.

As we clothe ourselves with these virtues, the last garment we are to put on is love, which holds all of the others in place. To practice any list of virtues without practicing love will lead to distortion, fragmentation, and stagnation (1 Corinthians 13:3).

He also offers a strategy to help us live for God day by day. They are (1) Imitate Christ’s compassionate, forgiving attitude (Colossians 3:12 – 13); (2) let love guide your life (Colossians 3:14); (3) let the peace of Christ rule in your heart (Colossians 3:15); (4) always be thankful (3:15); (5) keep God’s Word in you at all times (Colossians 3:16); (6) live as Jesus Christ’s representative (Colossians 3:17). These are ways to live well and for God. Love binds together all the other graces into one whole and thus making the Christian character complete.

Are these virtues evident in your life? If not, how do you intend to inculcate them into your life so that Christ will be seen in you?

Food for Thought: All the Christian graces are bound together in love. It is the source of them all.

Memory verse: Colossians 3 v 14

Prayer: Almighty God, sow in my heart the virtue of love for you and humanity which is the root for all other Christian virtues.

Signs Of True Christianity

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday May 23, 2017

Topic: Signs Of True Christianity                                   

Text: Colossians 3:12 – 17                                                                             

When the early followers of Christ exhibited some characters in Antioch, they were easily called Christians – Christ-like (Acts 11:26). Christian should be known by their character. No wonder Jesus challenged us to shine as light and live as salt (Matt. 5:13 – 16). He also urged us to love one another (Jn. 14:34 & 35).

Here, Paul urged us to put on virtues that will single us out as God’s elect; virtues that speak for us as true believers. How many virtues did he mention in this text? God’s elect here means chosen, set apart, sanctified or consecrated. Christians are requested to put on these virtues; tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, etc, as the regalia with which we should be known. As God’s elect we should manifest spirit of kindness, gentleness, and love towards Christians and non-Christians.

Sadly, this is not so among us. We love only those we know; contrary to what the Bible says. What do you exhibit as mark of your Christianity? Do you show tender mercies as a Christian? Are you kind, humble, meek, showing longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another even as Christ forgave you? Are you among the people who wear long garment, carry the biggest bible or attend all church programmes to be noticed when you are a wolf in your neighbourhood? How do you treat people when they offend you? Do you show longsuffering when offended? Search yourself and repent before it will be late. Show your Christianity by exhibiting true virtues everywhere you go.

Food for Thought: Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal or eloquence.

Memory verse: Colossians 3 verse 12

Prayer: God, grant me the grace to develop true character of a Christian.