Thursday 02 January 2020

Psalm: Psalm 117

Background

If you are struggling to think of some kind of resolution for this new year then look no further than our passage for today. As Paul writes to the church in Colossae from his prison cell, he gives us a beautiful passage that we would all be better for if we sought to live it out daily.

Dress yourself in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. What would it look like for us to live each day with these five principles at the heart of what we do? How would we treat those we meet in the street or work alongside?

Bear with each other, forgive each other and love each other. I think these three follow because there is a good chance we won’t always get the first ones right. Living alongside people is hard, especially in a close-knit community like church, where people from all walks of life come together.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, be thankful, let God dwell among you. This is the really important bit because it is this dwelling with Christ that allows us to live out all that has been mentioned above. If we want our words and our deeds to be glorifying to God, if we want to love and forgive and be compassionate and kind, then it is Christ we must dwell.

To Ponder:

• What are your spiritual plans or resolutions for 2020?
• Which of the qualities from today's passage do you need to work on?