“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:14)
How many people spend their whole lives waiting to “fall in love” or waiting for love to “find them”? From the Bible’s perspective, you’re more likely to get “found” by the swine flu than real love. It’s like waiting to get found by a promise. Promises don’t find you; they’re given to you.
Or – even better – you give them away to others. Look at the power in this command Paul gives to all of us who are becoming like Jesus: “Put on love.” Do you realize what that means? In God’s power, we can be “in love” at any time we wish, just by putting it on like a big coat over all the other virtues.
Granted, this isn’t just romantic love (though it can be the purest form of that). It’s even more powerful than attraction and reaction. This is Jesus-style, “I’m going to die for you” love. This is God’s version of “you can’t make me take it back no matter what you do” love.
And as Christians, we can put it on and start giving it away right now. Don’t wait for it to come looking for you.
Think: Do you think the word love is overused in our society? How would you define God’s kind of love, the kind we’re told to “put on” in this verse?
Pray: Ask God to help you to put on his kind of love over all the other virtues listed in Colossians 3.
Do: If you haven’t for a while, read Paul’s definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.