Live Out the New Self Col 3:10-17 ---- Love & Building Up One another

The best way to rid oneself of bad behavior is to focus on 'Christ in Us' and be busy knowing Christ, growing up in wisdom, and doing good deeds out of gratitude, leaving no time for sins. The specifics are given in the lessons learned below:

Lessons:

• 1. Growing Up to Be Like Christ
  • - It Takes Time: Spiritual growth is a gradual process that requires patience.
  • - Gaining Knowledge of Christ: We need to learn more about Christ through study and reflection.
  • - Constant Renewal: We must continually reflect and review our lives to align with Christ’s image.
• 2. One Key Attribute of Growth is Love
  • - Harmony with All: Achieving harmony with people of different races, educational backgrounds, social standings, and statuses (enslaved or free) reflects Christ’s love and unity.
• 3. Exercise Love Through Various Virtues
  • - Tenderness: Show compassion and sensitivity.
  • - Kindliness: Act with kindness towards others.
  • - Humility: Maintain a humble attitude.
  • - Gentleness: Approach others with gentleness.
  • - Forbearance: Practice patience and tolerance.
  • - Forgiving: Forgive others as Christ forgave us.
• 4. Focus on Christ
  • - Receiving Peace and Wisdom: Focus on Christ in our minds to receive His peace and wisdom. Avoid making decisions without inner peace.
• 5. Teach and Encourage Others
  • - Help others grow in their faith by teaching and encouraging them.
• 6. Community Worship and Sharing
  • - Engage in communal worship through psalms, hymns, and sacred songs. Sharing in worship strengthens the community.
• 7. Do Everything with Gratitude and for Christ
  • - With gratitude, do everything in the name of Christ. This reflects the teaching in Matthew 5:16 to let our light shine before others so they may see our good deeds and glorify God.

Prayer:

• Dear Heavenly Father,
  • Thank You for Your Word that guides us in our journey to become more like Christ. Help us to grow in knowledge and understanding, continually renewing ourselves in Your image. Teach us to embody love, showing compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness to all those around us.
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  • Fill our hearts with Your peace and wisdom, guiding our decisions and actions. May we teach and encourage one another, fostering a community that worships You in unity through psalms, hymns, and songs of the Spirit.
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  • With grateful hearts, we commit to doing everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let our good works shine before others, so they may see and glorify You, our Father in heaven.
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  • In Jesus’ name, we pray.
    • Amen.