Twin Peaks

The scripture for today is Colossians 3:12-13

 

Colossians 3:12-13 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.

 

As followers of Christ, we are instructed to emulate Christ in all of our conduct. It is not through our own strength or the force of our wills that we accomplish this; it is rather through the empowerment of Christ through the Holy Spirit.  “All who have accepted Christ, irrespective of national, religious, racial and social distinctions, are the elect of God. They are the salt of the earth, the light of the world.” The SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 212

 

Not only are we the elect of God, we are also “holy and beloved.” We have been separated unto God and it is His will that is being lived through us. “As God is holy in His sphere, so fallen man, through faith in Christ, is to be holy in his sphere” Ellen White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 559

 

God, who has secured for us a place in Him, enables us through His Son to live His kind of life in a world that is desperate for His light. We are called to do that which is humanly impossible apart from Christ. God has not called us to be just natural people, He has called us to be “supernatural people” through the power of the Holy Spirit. There is nothing ordinary about God and there is nothing ordinary about the people of God. Look at what God enables us to do: “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.”  These are not natural behaviors; these are supernatural behaviors; these are the attributes of Christ Himself and we are instructed to live a life that expresses His life.

 

God never instructs us to do something that He is unwilling to empower us to do. In fact, it is He who does the work through us as we yield ourselves to His Spirit. Yes, we are empowered to follow in the steps of Christ as we are recreated into His image. May the instructions of the Word of God be the compass that directs our lives. May we live in such a way that we reflect the life of Christ and bring glory and honor to our Heavenly Father.

 

God bless you as you continue in His service.

Tim