Welcome to Nancy Wilson's Feminine Podcast, presented by Canon Press.

Welcome to the Feminine Podcast. This is Nancy Wilson. Thanks for joining me today.

Sometimes it's good to be reminded of some basic Christian teaching and that's what I'm doing today.

We're going to look at Colossian Street 12 through 17 and it's only six little verses, but I counted 17 commands in these six little verses.

17 commands for us to obey.

And I remember as a young Christian wondering, how do I know that I love God or how do I express my love to God?

And then I came across adverse where Jesus says, if you love me, you obey my commands.

And so that is how we demonstrate our love for Christ is by obeying his commands.

So Colossians 3, 12 through 17.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering.

Okay, we'll pause there. Well, first Paul reminds us of who we are.

We are God's beloved. We are his elect. And because he has set us apart, we are holy in him.

And then comes the commands, the imperatives. Since we are his elect, he tells us to put on these characteristics of holiness.

So we look like who we really are, God's beloved.

What is it to put on, but to practice, practice, tender mercies, practice kindness, practice humility and meekness, practice patience.

Because God has demonstrated each of these virtues toward us.

So we in turn treat others as God has treated us.

These are all fruits of the Spirit. When we put them on, we can't do it in a mechanical way, obviously.

But we ask God to put them on us. And then by faith, they will characterize our demeanor toward others.

We can't simply store them up in our heart. We can't say, well, I'm really long suffering in my heart.

I just have no patience with you.

No, we live out our Christianity in our relationships. That's where the rubber meets the road, right?

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