Putting On The New Self

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving one another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." - Colossians 3:12–13

After telling us what to put off, Paul tells us what to put on. The new self is characterized by compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness. These are not just nice qualities to admire - they are the wardrobe of the resurrected life.

Notice how Paul begins: "as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved." Our ability to live this way flows from our identity, not our effort. We can be compassionate because we have received compassion. We can be kind because we have experienced kindness. We can forgive because we have been forgiven.

These qualities are not natural to us - they are supernatural. They come from the Spirit of God working in us to transform us into the image of Christ. The same love that motivated Jesus to go to the cross now motivates us to love others sacrificially.

I have found that putting on these qualities requires intentional practice. Just as an athlete trains to develop muscle memory, we must practice these spiritual qualities until they become our natural response. When someone hurts us, our first instinct might be revenge, but we can train ourselves to respond with forgiveness instead.

The list is comprehensive. Compassion helps us feel with others in their pain. Kindness moves us to action on their behalf. Humility keeps us from thinking too highly of ourselves. Meekness is strength under control. Patience helps us endure difficult people and circumstances.

But notice that Paul does not stop with individual qualities - he moves to relational ones. We must bear with one another and forgive one another. The resurrection life is not lived in isolation but in community. Our new nature is most clearly displayed in how we treat other people.

Forgiveness is highlighted because it is both the most difficult and the most important aspect of the new self. We forgive not because others deserve it, but because Christ has forgiven us. Our forgiveness of others is simply an overflow of the forgiveness we have received.

Which of these new self qualities do you most need to develop? How can you practice putting on these characteristics in your daily relationships?

Loving Father, thank You for choosing me, making me holy, and calling me beloved. Help me to put on the new self with all its beautiful qualities. Fill me with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Most of all, help me to forgive others as You have forgiven me. In Your gracious name, Amen.