The New Self: God’s Love On Display
(Colossians 3:12-14)
1. WOODSTOCK, Ill., Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Customers at an Illinois Shell station received gas for just one cent per gallon due to a glitch in the system, an employee said.
Rita Castillo, who has worked at the Shell station in Woodstock for about five years, said a glitch in the system Sunday night led to gas being sold for $0.01 per gallon instead of the intended price of $3.50 per gallon, WBBM NewsRadio, Chicago, reported Tuesday.
Castillo said there were long lines of cars waiting when she arrived for work.
"The first thing I do is run outside and check the price," Castillo said.
She said the price was returned to normal Sunday night. She said she does not know how many people purchased gas for the nearly free price.
Castillo said she hopes Shell will make up for her boss' lost product and income.
"I like my boss. He's a good man. I don't know what's going on. I hope the company replaces that stuff. But I feel upset for him," she said.
2. This is funny in a way, but it is sad that none of the customers notified the desk.
3. When you take advantage of a mistake, sometimes heads roll; you are being anything but kind.
4. It’s like punishing a waitress for a mistake the cook made. Not right — not what Jesus would do.
Main Idea: Our new selves are characterized by love, and therefore we should value and live-out the nuances of love.
I. We Put On the New Self Because of Who We ARE (12a)
A. CHOSEN ones
1. When professional sports make draft choices, that is election in progress
2. Jesus died for everyone, not just the chosen. So we can offer salvation to all
B. Holy means SET APART from the mainstream
1. We’re choking on this like a 5 year-old choking on spinach
2. We are so bent on being like the world and relating to the culture; has its commendable side, but we have become uncomfortable with being different
3. Luke V. said it well: “What we call the culture, the Bible calls the world.”
4. This means we must be selectivists, the Philippians 4:8 principle;
C. Beloved means SPECIALLY loved in a way others are not
1. I care about many people, but none are so beloved as my wife & children.
2. If we live holy lives, we suffer and need this reinforcement
Application: We work best when we become what we are meant to be.
II. The New Self Values LOVE and Its Sections (12b-14)
1. Love is like plywood; each layer is glued to make a strong board; love is both the glue and the finished product
2. Much of what is passed off as love is really people pleasing, giving people what they want, or being compliant
3. Lists of virtues popular in both Greek and Jewish culture: Fruit of the Spirit
4. Paul does not mention here that the Holy Spirit supplies a never-ending supply of love in our hearts, as per Romans 5:5)
A. COMPASSION (in our inward parts)
Parable of Good Samaritan; the Samaritan has compassion (pity). deeply seated
Watching a lot of violence in movies/TV can harden us, not as disturbed
B. KINDNESS
The Talmud teaches: “The Torah begins with an act of kindness, and ends with an act of kindness. It begins with an act of kindness, for it says, ‘God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them’ (Genesis 3:21). And it ends with an act of kindness, for it says, ‘He [God] buried him [Moses] in the valley’” (Deuteronomy 34:6; Sotah 14a).
Because imitating God is one of the Torah’s 613 commandments (Deuteronomy 28:9); walk in His ways”), the Rabbis carefully studied the Bible to find acts performed by God that human beings could emulate. Thus, in the evolution of Jewish law, the two acts cited above, providing clothing for those in need and arranging a burial, are regarded as among the great acts of kindness and charity that we can do for others.” [Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, A Code of Jewish Ethics, Vol. 2, p. 139].
• Joseph of Arimathea provided a tomb — kindness exemplified.
C. HUMILITY
A honest assessment and choosing to keep our, faults, sins and defects in mind; humility is a discipline [Parable of Tax Collector and Pharisee]
D. MEEKNESS
Meekness is about restraint… unwanted advice; calling attention to fault in others
E. PATIENCE
1. Seen in BEARING with others
The fact we are told to put up with another means we will irritate others and be irritated; close workers for the Kingdom understand this; fringe people do not. We can drive one another crazy, mannerisms become old. Notice the word “always”
But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?”
So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah the son of Imla.”
And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”
Then the king of Israel called one of his officers and said, “Bring Micaiah the son of Imla quickly!” 2 Chronicles 16:6-8
• God’s patience: not without limit; long-suffering, not forever-suffering…
• Jesus: walking the extra mile, not a dozen; turn the other cheek (once); give people space and grace, but within boundaries…
• Putting up with too much can actually reinforce bad behavior in others…
2. Seen in being ready to FORGIVE
• Based upon God’s model of forgiveness (conditioned upon repentance)
• Attitude of graciousness, not withholding grace or meting out increments…
F. Put together with the adhesive of LOVE
CONCLUSION
1. Being a loving person sounds simple.
2. But it is complex; the more seriously we take it, the more we see how the implications of love affect so much of our behavior and attitudes we did not even used to consider. That’s why we need to contemplate and make Spirit-empowered adjustments based upon the holy calling God has for us.
