“Put On Love, Wear It Out!” by Guest Writer: Lisa Spivey

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, weakness, and patience, bearing with one another and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:12-14

I have always been a woman who is all about fashion. I enjoy having all of my outfits coordinated from top to bottom. And what I have learned through the years is you can look great on the outside and have no value on the inside. How tragic! It really doesn’t matter how well you are put together on the outside if the inside is a mess.

In the above verses the Apostle Paul mentions six virtues to clothe ourselves in daily. When reading these verses there are three words Paul is speaking to us that should really jump out: “above all these” put on love.  I truly believe Paul was trying to clue us in that love is the most important virtue and if we lack love, we lack the greatest thing.

You see, all the virtues Paul encourages us to develop are perfectly bound together by love.  Love binds us to God and to one another.  As we clothe ourselves in these garments daily the last we are to put on is love, which binds them all together to hold them firmly in place. To practice any of these virtues without practicing love will lead to destruction, division and fragmentation.

Maybe there is a certain situation, circumstance, or even person in your life that is difficult to love in this season. Perhaps you are dealing with trying to forgive someone who really hurt you. Sister, I understand. As you reflect on the above verses, notice that Paul addresses forgiveness, and I don’t think that is by chance. He states that the key to forgiving others is remembering how much Christ has forgiven you. Realizing God’s infinite love and forgiveness can help you and I as we walk through the process of forgiving others. I want to encourage you to do the best you can to live in peace.  Because love is not a feeling, but rather a choice we make first before God, and then secondly to extend to others.

In closing, below are six strategy points to remind us daily as we put on love and wear it out:

1. Imitate Christ’s compassionate, forgiving attitude (Col. 3:12,13)
2. Let love guide your life (Col. 3:14)
3. Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart (Col. 3:15)
4. Always be thankful (Col. 3:15)
5. Keep God’s Word in you at all times (Col. 3:16)
6. Live as Jesus Christ’s representative (Col. 3:17)

So, put on love, Sister, which is truly a foundational truth and yet a very necessary one for such a time as this. 

May God’s love shine bright in you, on you and to all those around you as you spread His love to a lost and hurting world.  You are loved!

Lisa Spivey has a passion to help free women from past fears, hurts, and insecurities by encouraging them to let God heal their brokenness with new beginnings (Psalm 30:11). Lisa is a wife, mom to five adult children and “Nona” to seven grandchildren. She lives in Southern California with her husband, Steven. An experienced Bible teacher and event speaker, connect with Lisa at her website: realfaithforrealife.com to find out about scheduling speaking engagements for your group or Church.

We thank you, Lisa, for contributing to this month’s publication of Titus-two.com, talking about “The Love of Christ.”

You are loved to Heaven and Back ~~

LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary