Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Many years ago, somebody had given me a gift that I sure enjoyed during the cold winter months. It was a fur lined hat, one of those that you flipped down over your ears. It was made out of actual rabbit fur, and I don’t think I’ve ever worn anything warmer during a cold Minnesota winter. I think some people up in our neck of the woods might call them a trappers cap. But the one that I had was very much like a Russian Ushanka hat, with flaps to cover your ears, and could also be tied up on the crown of the cap. It’s been claimed that these hats are traditionally worn in the Baltic region, including Sweden, Finland and Norway. Back in the 17th century, the design of the Ushanka had a perfectly round crown. Apparently the more modern version from 1917 was actually inspired by a hat that was created by Norwegian Arctic explorers. Soldiers also needed warm clothing, but a lot of their uniforms couldn’t handle the extremely cold weather, so they would get rid of them, tossing out their old winter caps, and putting on a brand new ushanka!
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
When we become a Christian, it’s like ditching your old uniform and putting on a brand new hat. We have to rid ourselves of the old person that we used to be, and put on the new person that is created in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3 ¹² Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Today we’re going to take a look at each of these seven virtues, ones that we need to put on every day of our lives.
Bowels of mercies……
Jesus loved us, and laid down His life in order to save us, and because of His great love towards us, we need to become loving and forgiving with each other. We want to be merciful with each other, from the bottom of our hearts, just as God is with us.
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalms 86:5
When people manifest contrition, we need to be merciful with them, just as Christ is with us.
Galatians 6 ¹ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
² Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Matthew 18 ²¹ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? ²² Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Kindness……
Kindness is another attribute of the Holy Spirit, and is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate.
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;” Romans 12:10
2 Peter 1 ⁷ And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. ⁸ For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Humbleness of mind……..
We must put on a humble mind, just as our precious Lord Jesus did.
Philippians 2 ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Meekness……..
When somebody is meek, they are very submissive to authority.
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21
A Christian wife is supposed to possess a meek and submissive attitude towards her husband. Of all the things that a wife could ever give you, nothing could, or ever will compare to a meek heart of submission.
1 Peter 3 ¹ Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
² While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. ³ Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; ⁴ But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Long-suffering………
When you are long suffering, it means that you patiently endure lasting offense and hardship because of what others do to you.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
Forbearance………
Forbearance: a refraining from the enforcement of something such as a debt, right, or obligation that is due.
Matthew 18 ²³ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
²⁴ And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶ The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
²⁷ Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” Romans 2:4
Forgiveness…….
Forgiveness is to completely forgive and absolve someone for the wrongs that they have committed against you. When they desire repentance and reconciliation, we can completely forgive them of their sin debt.
“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32
“And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” Luke 17:4
We need to wear these qualities in our daily lives, shunning the old sinful deeds of the flesh, and becoming a new creature in Christ. It’s going to require discarding the old uniform for a better one, or like tossing out your old face mask, for a new……
…….Ushanka Hat
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.♥️
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