Live A Thankful Life By Ed McDowell

The Way to Live it Out!

The Apostle Paul provides us direction on what it means to live out the life Christ has called us to.

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

Colossians 3:12-15 NLT

Reflection

We are in a season marked by a wide range of issues. We are being prompted by culture to respond to it all as fast as possible. Politics, identity, business, religion, finances, and relationships are representative of areas where we have explicit opinions, convictions, and responses.

We also have God’s word to guide us on these issues. The Holy Spirit is present with us to lead us into the truth about all of this from God.

Paul lays out for us how we are to show up and live this life of Christ in how we relate to and interact with each other. Paul directs us to clothe ourselves with:

• Tenderhearted mercy
• Kindness
• Humility
• Gentleness
• Patience

This is what other people’s experience should be with us as we follow Christ. This is how we should increasingly be the example as we uphold truth with love.

Paul extends this even further with these words of direction:

• Make allowance for each other’s faults.
• Forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
• Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Do all of this with love:

• Grace for other’s shortcomings
• Forgiveness for others who speak and act in ways that offend

The love of God draws us together.

Encouragement

Let’s shift our focus to living the life God has called us to with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

No one is giving up any of God’s truth by choosing to live this way.

Be generous with each other during conflicts. Forgive each other when wrong has been done. Reach for God’s love in and through all of this.

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

We bring Paul’s words to you as our prayer today.

“And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

Colossians 3:15, NLT

In your name, Jesus, we pray.

Ed McDowell is the CEO of Warm Beach Camp Ministries. He also coaches and consults on board leadership and development, bringing fresh perspectives to complex situations. Ed authorizes a devotional series titled A Well-Planted Faith in an Uprooted Culture. His writing and speaking aim to challenge people to let God’s Word inform their lives. Ed and his wife, Bev, live on Camano Island, Washington, where they live out their mission statement: “To give our lives away for the cause of Jesus Christ to as many people as possible.”