A meditation, after considering Colossians 3:11-17
11 Here there is no Greek or Jew,
circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian,
Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all,
and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people,
holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves
with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive
whatever grievances you may have
against one another. Forgive as the
Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love,
which binds them all together in perfect
unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your
hearts, since as members of one body
you were called to peace. And be
thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly as you teach and admonish one
another with all wisdom, and as you sing
psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with
gratitude in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word
or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.
All Scripture text quoted is taken from the HOLY BIBLE,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984
by International Bible Society. Used by permission of
Zondervan. All rights reserved. Bold and italicized text are mine.
11 Here there is no Greek or Jew,
circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian,
Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all,
and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people,
holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves
with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive
whatever grievances you may have
against one another. Forgive as the
Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love,
which binds them all together in perfect
unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your
hearts, since as members of one body
you were called to peace. And be
thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly as you teach and admonish one
another with all wisdom, and as you sing
psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with
gratitude in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word
or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.
Where is there no prejudice?
Where, a freedom for the over-religious,
evidence for those who feel no need of piety?
Where, escape our roughhouse ways,
foreign stigma, past abuse, if self-enslaved?
There is only one place
where the clothed in Christ
can wrap themselves with given graces,
compassion, hymns, and mounds of thanks:
within their hearts, out in the clear.
Here!
____________Where, a freedom for the over-religious,
evidence for those who feel no need of piety?
Where, escape our roughhouse ways,
foreign stigma, past abuse, if self-enslaved?
There is only one place
where the clothed in Christ
can wrap themselves with given graces,
compassion, hymns, and mounds of thanks:
within their hearts, out in the clear.
Here!
All Scripture text quoted is taken from the HOLY BIBLE,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION ®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984
by International Bible Society. Used by permission of
Zondervan. All rights reserved. Bold and italicized text are mine.
