Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:12-13)
Jesus has given you new clothes. The Bible loves to use this picture. When you were baptized, you were clothed with Christ’s robes of righteousness. What does that look like? It’s so different than what our world values. Christ clothes us with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Those five Christian attributes are perhaps most clearly seen in the way Christians are to forgive each other.
A man once opened up to me about his past. It wasn’t good. Actually, it was really bad. He had broken laws. Committed crimes. In his own words, he deserved to go to hell.
But Jesus found him. Through God’s Word—and a girlfriend—Jesus reached out to him with grace and forgiveness. To the man’s surprise, he found himself going to church, Sunday after Sunday.
But every time he went, one man at that church kept staring at him. Week after week, the man would spend the service staring at him. Do you know who that man was? He was the judge who had repeatedly sentenced the man for all his previous crimes.
Can you imagine that? If you were that judge, could you forgive that repentant criminal? Could you welcome him to your church? Do you forgive the people who’ve sinned against you?
There’s only one way: Through Jesus. Like a judge puts on his big black robe when he presides over the court, Jesus has clothed you with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” So, “bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” How much has the Lord forgiven you? Everything. Every time. Isn’t that amazing? With all that we’ve done? Jesus took it to the cross and died for every single sin. Forgiven!
So the next time you see that “sinner” sit down in your church, don’t just stare at him. Smile! Is there really forgiveness for him? Absolutely. Just like there is forgiveness for you and me too. Thank you, Jesus! May Jesus clothe us with his same compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Dear Jesus, I need new clothes daily. I need you to take off my bitterness, anger, and selfishness and replace it with your compassion, kindness, and patience. Help me to forgive as you forgave me. Amen.

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