Everything has changed...

This is the first in a series of lifestyle changes on my part -- all thanks to the beauty of truth found within the scriptures. Anyone who says that the bible is dead and that God no longer speaks has obviously not sat and meditated on the word for any great length of time! I spent wednesday afternoon in my weekly life group; appropriately titled since that's what it's really affecting -- my life! We looked over Col. 3:12-17 and Holy Lord in Heaven what a word!

Sure, is there stuff that's exciting about those verses on the outset... OH yeah! I mean, how exciting is it to hear that we are:
1. God's Chosen people HOLY and dearly LoVED! Do you get it!! If that doesn't give you chills up your spine, you AREN'T Getting it! That's not just a suggestion to live up to... this buisness of being Holy and Loved, that's not even a suggestion... IT'S A PROMISE!!! Get it!! HOLY and LOVED is a current state of affairs, in the eyes of God we are Holy and Loved, and now as a result
2. We have the HOLY and BELOVED character of GOD... not good times Charlie down at the bar drowning his crappy sales month in a couple bottles of Jack... GOD! THE ALMIGHTY! None other than the King of HEAVEN and EARTH!
3. As a result we are commanded to act according to this new character... BAM! That means we have no reason to doubt that we can love the unlovable or those who are hard for us to love becuase we are now operating under a different standard, a different character, a different set of scruples... GOD'S personal scruples!
4. And if that's too difficult He simplifies it for us... Love them. If it's how I'd act do it! I can't believe I'm about to say this but dang! WWJD!
5. We are members of Christ's Body... We don't have to go it alone! We've got the whole of scripture, the whole of church history, the whole of the people of God, SHOOT we've got the WHOLE of GOD within us, working for our Good and his great name... I liken it to the corporate attorney who comes to you at a time of crisis.
... but it's more than just superficial implications that are striking me in the sola plexis like a well placed karate chop... it's the knowledge of what could happen if I actually take this stuff seriously! People i know that don't know christ WILL be changed for knowing me. Seriously, they will be changed for knowing me and God will have proven you can in fact, love people into the kingdom. For instance, coworkers can come to know the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ because I choose to love them with all their quirks, and not reject them or even love them IN SPITE of their wierdness. Choosing to actually love someone for who they are might actually make them long for Christ -- long for a perfect love, that drives out all fear!

You know for the first time in some time, I really believe God will use my talents in miraculous ways... "gift of Gab" you may be saying to yourselves can not save the world. Very true, but the gift of wholely loving someone can, and I believe will!!!

For anyone interested here are the verses in question:

12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yo
urselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let 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. 17And 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.