As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:12-15, NRSV)
as I read this passage from Colossians one verse struck me. Or actually a part of a verse struck me.
We are to put on, or clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, to bear with one another, and above all clothe ourselves with love…
That would be a pretty place if everyone was dressed this way…
Yet I left part out of the above description, the part that really struck me as I read this passage, on this day…
“if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
Just as the Lord has forgiven you…
When you confess something to God, does He ask you why you did it?
How could you do that to me
to them…
What were you thinking?
God doesn’t question us or wonder if we really mean we are sorry, we are forgiven. And that is how we are to forgive. With out question. If a person comes to you and tells you a fault they have done and ask for forgiveness, you must forgive, no questions…
Forgive as you were forgiven…

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” He also told them a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. (Luke 6:37-42, NRSV)
“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:15-20, NRSV)


