“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.” Colossians 3:5-7 NKJV
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:12-17 NKJV
Father God,
What a letter this is to the Colossians and to us today! Through Paul You call us to put on, dress ourselves in love. Not mushy love not judgemental love and certainly not lustful love. But it is not an extra robe, an outer coat or fancy dress! We can only put on Christ if we have put off the old self. And we may read the list and think I am not that bad. But there is no big and little sin – just sin. You reminded us in Matthew 5:28 that just a lustful look is the same as adultery! My thinking is not always kind, humble, meek or longsuffering. I have to strip off all the sin and harm that damages me and others. And deeply offends You.
Help us put off self and put on love. It is not always easy, situations are not always as they appear. We are prone to thinking we are right and need everyone to know so. Keep us at peace and when we are rattled, help us to return from seeing red or green to seeing peace. Remind us of all we have to be thankful for and keep those scriptural hymns of thanksgiving popping into our minds.
And help me to do whatever I am doing, to do it well as if I were also doing it for You, my Lord and Saviour.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen
Worship Wednesday 17th December 2025
But life is not that black and white – and I when I fail -thank You God – I still have Jesus.
For the joys and for the sorrows
The best and worst of times
For this moment, for tomorrow
For all that lies behind
Fears that crowd around me
For the failure of my plans
For the dreams of all I hope to be
The truth of what I am
For this I have Jesus
For this I have Jesus
For this I have Jesus, I have Jesus
For the tears that flow in secret
In the broken times
For the moments of elation
Or the troubled mind
For all the disappointments
Or the sting of old regrets
All my prayers and longings
That seem unanswered yet
Chorus
For the weakness of my body
The burdens of each day
For the nights of doubt and worry
When sleep has fled away
Needing reassurance
And the will to start again
A steely-eyed endurance
The strength to fight and win
Chorus
For this only Jesus . . .
Lyrics: Graham Kendrick (1994)