Approaching A New Year

 Reflection on Colossians 3:12-14 

I’m Rev Jay Stuart Glover  welcome to Faith Talk. 

 As we approach the coming of a new year, today we’ll be taking a look at a brief passage of scripture  that calls us to live out the full implications of our identity in Christ. It challenges us to re-examine  our personal theologies as well as our relationships with one another. 

The text Colossians 3:12-14 reads in this way: 

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 one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

This passage  invites us to a sacred place of introspection. In these days of confusion we are called engage in some self examination, especially  for those who boldly claim their  identify as being Christian, or a follower of Jesus. 

When we reflect on this passage and take an honest inventory of ourselves—both individually and collectively—the question arises: Are we truly bearing the image of God in the world, or have aspects of our theological understanding slipped through the cracks, causing us to misrepresent the God we claim to follow? In examining our Christian identity, we must ask: How are we living out this divine calling? Are we actively choosing to embody compassion and kindness, or are we being pulled toward the greed, corruption, and violence that tries  to dominate the narrative of society?

In this passage, although  Paul speaks directly to his audience, his words continue to offer rich insight for us today. For those who are quick to publicly identify as Christians, I offer this scripture as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with being a follower of Jesus.

The scripture said: 

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” 

This is the first command in our passage—clothe yourselves. It’s a powerful charge. When we get dressed each day, we make deliberate choices about what we wear. What we choose to put on says something about who we are, how we want to be perceived, and what we value. Paul is saying that, as believers, we need to “put on” virtues that reflect the character of Christ.

Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience—these aren’t just abstract ideas; they’re tangible ways of living. These qualities should be evident in the way we interact with others. Think about the impact it would have on our families, workplaces, and communities if we actively chose to wear these virtues every day.

But here’s the thing: wearing these virtues isn’t always easy. It requires intentionality. It requires us to resist our natural impulses, like pride, impatience, and selfishness. But when we clothe ourselves in Christlike virtues, we can journey towards living out our identity as God’s dearly loved children.

The text goes on to say: 

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” 

These words remind me of the painful phenomenon of church hurt that often invades our congregations. The terms “church hurt” refers to the emotional, psychological, or spiritual wounds caused by negative experiences within a church community—experiences that often involve betrayal, judgment, exclusion, poor teaching and  abuse by leaders or fellow members. 

People come to church expecting refuge, healing, and spiritual growth, but sometimes, instead, they encounter harmful attitudes and actions. The pain of church hurt runs deep because it typically involves a breach of trust in a sacred place that is meant to be grounded in love, grace, and support.

Tragically, these relational breakdowns often stem from smaller issues that, if addressed promptly, could be corrected before they escalate. However, the challenge remains: correction and accountability must happen in order to restore healthy relationships within the church. This doesn’t mean we should overlook the need for correction, but rather that we should be willing to address wrongs with grace and a spirit of restoration.

While forgiveness is not an easy or immediate process, it can be transformative. Forgiveness does not excuse the wrongs done, but it frees individuals from the burden of anger and resentment. In the church, forgiveness is a powerful tool for rebuilding relationships, restoring unity, and creating a culture of grace. It reflects the heart of Christ, who offers unconditional forgiveness to all, and leads to true reconciliation—both with one another and with God. Although church hurt is a painful reality, the practice of accountability and forgiveness holds the power to bring healing, renewal, and hope to those who have suffered.

“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” 

Paul says that love is the ultimate “garment” that ties all of the virtues together. It’s the thread that weaves compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience into a beautiful tapestry. Love is the glue that holds the Christian community together in unity. Love is not a feeling. it is demonstrated, and proven by what we choose to do and what we choose  not to do. 

Love in action,  demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of others. It’s a choice to act towards the good of the community. When we love, we create space for others to thrive, and we allow the unity of the body of Christ to shine through. The questions for us as we approach a new year are:  How can we apply this 'putting on love' in our families, churches, and communities? How does the concept of love move from being thoughts in our  heads into our hands and feet? How can we become the embodiment of this teaching in identifiable ways in a new year? 

This passage invites us to a sacred place of introspection. It’s an invitation to examine our lives and our relationships with others. If we are honest with ourselves, we may recognize that some of these virtues—compassion, kindness, humility, forgiveness, love—have been hard to practice at times. We may have allowed bitterness, impatience, or division to slip through the cracks of our understanding.

But here’s the good news: God’s grace is always available to us. His Spirit empowers us to put on these virtues, to live in peace, and to reflect the love of Christ to a world in need. It’s not about perfection; it’s about progress. Every day is a new opportunity to clothe ourselves with the character of Christ.

I pray that as you reflect on Colossians 3:12-14, you would be inspired and empowered to live out the high calling of being God's chosen people, clothed in the virtues of Christ.

 I’m Rev Jay Stuart Glover and you are listening to “Faith Talk.” These episodes are available on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube and other podcast platforms. Please share with family and friends. Vis subscribe and leave a review and comments.