MONDAY March 28, 2022

Characteristics of the New Man

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Colossians 3:12-13

Paul gave us the characteristics of the new man––the spiritual man. As if putting on a clean garment, the new man must put on: tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another.

I believe some Christians have a very difficult time forgiving those who have hurt them. Yet they have received God’s forgiveness for themselves. If they are unforgiving and have a hardened heart, then how can God continue to forgive them? When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount to His disciples and those listening, He gave a strict warning against the sin of unforgiveness: “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15).

Christians are to forgive; they are not to hold grudges. When you humble yourself and forgive, God will pour out His Holy Spirit on you. It allows Him to work in the other person’s heart. They may feel convicted, especially if they are at fault. God can use this situation to bring them to Christ. Do you remember what Jesus said to His Father when His enemies crucified Him on the Cross? He said: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).

Jesus is our example. We need to come to the throne of God to ask Him to help us forgive our enemies. What of our pride, our inconsistences and our sins? We still ask God in prayer to forgive our sins, so how can we still not forgive others? Forgive and you shall be forgiven.

Forgive, forget. Bear with the faults of others as you would have them bear with yours. Be patient and understanding. Life is too short to be vengeful or malicious.
~Phillips Brooks~

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