Wednesday – June 29, 2016
Wednesday, hump day, is upon us and time to feast once again on the Word of God. God is so good, He is actually infinitely beyond good.
Colossians 3:11-14 (KJV)
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
There is no difference of opportunity upon entrance into the Kingdom of God (salvation) based on any physical or worldly criteria like race, gender, social, or economic standing. Unlike the world system, opportunity is a gift in the Kingdom of God. Our Father gives each of us a level playing field of opportunity, but the outcome requires our diligence. In our study yesterday Jesus talked about the hundred fold (Mark 10:30). Well one hundred fold of ten is a lot different than one hundred fold of one thousand. You see there are differing ranks and economic levels in Heaven directly related to our obedience here. We must not get too focused on Heaven but be focused like a laser on our mission here. At your secular job how impressed do you think your boss would be if you were focused on going home and talked about home all the time? Now let’s pick up with verse twelve.
Colossians 3:12-14 (KJV)
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 … 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (Underline added)
We are told to “put on” which means to be clothed with six spiritual qualities which will have some physical manifestations. On a physical person clothing is easily seen and covers our body, our nakedness. For example; I am rushing toward the door to a building and an older feeble person is also approaching and I pause and hold the door for that person, we would call that kindness. I may have done that due to pride wondering what people would think if I didn’t pause to help or I may have developed this spiritual quality of kindness which kicked in when I saw the need for kindness. It is what I would have done if we were the only two within a hundred miles. This looks a lot like the fruit of the spirit don’t you think?
Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Of the six attributes listed in Colossians 3:12 and 14 all but mercy is feminine in gender and singular in number meaning that any individual employing these with proper seed will have a harvest. All nine of the fruits of the spirit are feminine in gender and singular in number meaning that the exercise of these in one’s life will produce fruit. I also want it to be clear in our thinking that these attributes are not a suggestion or a try to have, it is a command to have these attributes. We are to be diligent to develop them fully with the guidance of our Heavenly Father. The development of these attributes, pluckable fruits, will bring tangible physical and spiritual fruits not only into our individual lives but more importantly into the Kingdom of God. Our overarching mandate is to build the Kingdom of God, the family name, and to be mature sons of God.
Just as in the fruits of the spirit the controlling or premier attribute is love, Gods love. As a reminder, love which is ‘agape’ in the Greek is manifest by selflessness, adherence to the Blood Covenant, and obedience to the Word of God. When all of our focus is on God, all of His focus (flow of power) is on us. I think we can agree that God is selfless (He didn’t need a Savior), He certainly has acted upon the Blood Covenant, and He is obedient to perform His Word. A key element of Blood Covenant is that anything one party is willing to do so must the other. Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac so Jehovah had to be willing to sacrifice The Word (His Son). In defense or in building the success of the other all of the resources of one are available to the other. All that we have must be available to God including and especially us and in return all the resources of Heaven are at our disposal. We certainly got the better end of that deal. Practice love diligently and on purpose and mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering will be abundantly manifest for all to see and the Kingdom of God will be expanded for the glory of God.
By Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
