7/13/12- The Mercy of the Gospel

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must rid yourselvesof all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

(1998 poster of Les Miserables)

Thoughts: Just watched Les Miserables (1998 version).  The homeless thief, Jean Valjean, was welcomed into the bishop's home.  There Valjean tried to steal the bishop's silverware and hit the bishop.  When Valjean was caught and brought to the bishop, the bishop said he had given him the silverware and even said he had forgotten the candlesticks- giving them to him.  Then in private the bishop said he had purchased his soul and that Valjean should keep his saying that he would be a "new man." Valjean was changed. The miserable people- were not the very poor, but the evil people who could not enjoy the life God had given them- and could not show mercy.   

    This passage is full of mercy- there is no Greek, Jew, circumcised, or uncircumcised.  The gospel- of compassion and kindness- that elicits us to forgive each other as God forgives us- has grabbed Paul and changed him.  He reminds us the power of God transforms the old "disobedient man" into someone full of love and grace.  

Prayer: Thank you Lord, that we do not need to walk in the ways of sin, but in the ways of kindness.