Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

This week we’ve talked about ‘Why?’ and ‘Why not?’; skunk factors, saltiness and excellence.  All of these have addressed particulars of our lives.  As Christians we all want to ‘get it right’.  This involves dealing with all aspects of life.  But at the heart of it all is a pearl of great price – who we are in Him and who He is for us.

We are God’s chosen people, but it’s a whole lot more than that.  We are dearly loved!  He swept us off our feet.  When we thought we were unlovable and lost.  He found us and made us His own.  When we were lonely and feeling rejected.  He said, “I want you!”  Do we understand that we are talking about the God of the Universe!  The maker of stars and heavens and planets!  He knows our names.  He cares for us!

I think of little Samuel, as a child in the temple being awakened by the Lord calling his name (1 Samuel 3).  The final time it says, “The Lord came and stood there calling as at the others times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!”  Try to grasp the thought of the Lord standing by you and calling your name!  I remember a chorus on this theme that has always been dear to me, “I heard the Lord call my name, listen close you’ll hear the same.”

Our Lord and Savior didn’t just set us apart like choosing members of a team.  He made us His.  He made us new.  He radically changed us so that we could be like Him. He desires that we show forth His love by developing and showing forth the qualities that He has expressed to us – the ones identified in today’s verse: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Can you think of finer attributes than these?

Yes it’s important to know what not to do and what to avoid – but the thrill of our hearts can be –and must be – becoming like Him.  We can never repay Him for what He has done for us, but we can bring Him pleasure!  He enables us to live out these very qualities that express His love and that will draw others to Him.  He wants to use us to extend His family!