THE CHARACTER EXPECTED OF A BELIEVER
12 THEREFORE, AS THE ELECT OF GOD, HOLY AND BELOVED, PUT ON TENDER MERCIES, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, MEEKNESS, LONGSUFFERING;
13 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.
14 BUT ABOVE ALL THESE THINGS PUT ON LOVE, which is the bond of perfection.
15 AND LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 AND WHATEVER YOU DO IN WORD OR DEED, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, GIVING THANKS TO GOD THE FATHER THROUGH HIM."
Colossians 3:12-17 (NKJV)
A number of things are mentioned in the passage above which are more of a responsibility than what just to be read.
As the elect of God, Holy and beloved, you should put on the attributes mentioned here; tender mercies, kindness, humility meekness, and longsuffering (Colossians 3:12).
Putting on these attributes would involve taking a deliberate step on the part of you as a believer who wanted or intended to do obey the Scripture.
a. You make the choice to be merciful, show mercy to others in your relationship with them (Romans 12:8; Colossians 3:12).
b. You also choose to be kind. One of the fruits of the spirit that a believer ought to grow and develop is kindness (Galatians 5:22; Colossians 3:12).
c. The choice to be humble and meek, and be longsufferingly or forborne with others should be made (Psalm 25:9; Galatians 5:22).
These are to be deliberately done or put on, that is why, You, is the subject matter of the statement. You are the one to deliberately put them on.
In the verse that follows, you are also to bear or tolerate others, forgive whoever had any issue with you. Those who have complaints against one another should forgive as Christ did forgive them (Matthew 6:14,15; Colossians 3:13).
These being talked about here are about tolerance which the flesh would want to resist. Although, some people might want to take advantage of you If these godly attributes are found in your life, but the Bible says you should put the attributes on anyway. Putting them on does not mean that you are stupid but being obedient to the Word of God, the Bible.
Love which is the ultimate of godly characters or attributes is said to be put on because It is the bond of perfection (Colossians 3:14).
When you love, being able to put on all other godly attributes would not be difficult for you. The love being talked about is a major attribute of God and it is given by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).
This love is usually poured in a believer's heart after being saved. Every professed believer is given the ability to love by the Holy Spirit: "NOW HOPE DOES NOT DISAPPOINT, BECAUSE THE LOVE OF GOD HAS BEEN POURED OUT IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO WAS GIVEN TO US" (Romans 5:5 NKJV).
However, a lot of believers do not always allow this love to find expression through them. Love of God is poured in your heart if you are born-again but the expression of it is the issue or problem of many believers.
a. Let the love of God deposited in you be expressed.
b. Yield yourself to God and let Him use you to show Himself, showcase His attributes, to the world around you. Love bears all things and it does not keep any record of evil (1 Corinthians 13:5,7).
Instead of yielding to the demands or dictates of the flesh that is urging you to do contrary to God's Word, that is, respond to things according to the dictates of the flesh, you should rather consider and choose to yield to the urging of love on the inside of you. Let God's love find expression through you, that the world around you might see how the true love of God is.
You should also let the peace of God rule in your heart: "AND LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS, TO WHICH ALSO YOU WERE CALLED IN ONE BODY; AND BE THANKFUL" (Colossians 3:15 NKJV).
Being apprehensive and agitative are signs of unbelief. When a bothering matter is taking to God through prayer and supplication, the Scripture says, the peace of God which surpasses all understanding would guide your heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
Note:
a. Without the peace of God, development or progress would be a mirage.
b. Without peace which is a sign or symbol of trust and faith in God, nothing can be received from God.
c. Unbelief is an absence of peace and it displeases God (Hebrews 11:6).
d. Peace is also a freedom from of all forms of anxiety and worry. Where worrying or anxiety is, faith cannot work there and nothing can be received from God (James 1:5-7).
Thus, peace is important and pivotal to the development, growth and progress that any believer would experience in God.
Lastly, It is said in the passage that whatever is done in word and deed should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him, Christ (Colossians 3:17).
Through the name of Christ Jesus, miracles are done and performed. God's name is glorified through Christ Jesus' name.
Let the name of Christ Jesus always be in your mouth!
Peace.