The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Colossians 3:12-13, “And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”

“Be sure and wash your hands before supper.” “And don’t forget to brush your teeth before bedtime.”

“Be kind to your little sister; she’s not as big as you are.” How many times have you heard your mother

say things like this to you? It’s called repetition –not because she was bereft of words to express herself, but because that’s how children learn. It’s the drip, drip, drip of repetition that ingrains truths into “little skulls of mush.”

That must have been young Paul’s experience, too, because he uses it over and over again. “Put on a heart of compassion, ????????? (a heart with feeling).” Let your heart feel as if you were having the trouble of another. “Express kindness, ?????????, (an attitude of uprightness) toward others. Humility, ?????????????? is (voluntary submission). You are the guest speaker, but you take a seat at the end of the table instead of the middle. Gentleness, ???????, is having consideration for others: How can I help him? And always be patient, ??????????, –be emotionally quiet, and long-suffering toward others.

Then the question comes: How and when are these attitudes to be applied? Paul says, “…bearing with one another, and forgiving each other.” What’s the difference? Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown say that “bearing” relates to present offenses, while “forgiving” relates to past offenses. Let’s say that someone calls you “Sloth” because you take your time doing things. That’s a present offense, but you grin and say nothing: that is bearing with the offender. Yet, when someone says something negative about you when you are not present, that requires forgiveness. It’s a past offence that took place last week or last month.

We would all probably do well to re-read and think carefully on all three of the above paragraphs. How we act and react to the thoughts and attitudes of others demonstrates how Christian –Christ-like—we really are. Just remember that we have been saved to honor and glorify our LORD Jesus every day. That’s what it’s all about. God bless you as you do it!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”