“And over all these virtues put on love. . . which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:14 (NIV)
Love is a decision followed by a commitment. . . YOU DECIDE! You are asked in Colossians 3:12 (NIV) to “clothe” yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and, above all, “AGAPE” LOVE, which is like a belt which holds them all together. To fully develop these attributes, there are more garments to “put on” as you learn to love divinely.
Ephesians 6:11, 14-17 lists the battle fatigues for spiritual warfare, while Romans 13:12b (NIV) admonishes you to “put on the armor of light,” putting aside all “deeds of darkness.”
The ultimate apparel necessary to obtain the divine ability to love God, your spouse, friend, neighbor, and even your enemies is written in Romans 13:14 (NIV): “…clothe (yourself) with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
Luke 6:35 promises that those who practice “agape” love will have a great reward, but there is a process to live out before you can obtain that prize. Paul understood it all when he said of these three. . . faith, hope, and love… LOVE was the greatest! (See I Corinthians 13:13.)
PRAY: “Loving God, I choose today to clothe myself in the virtues of Your Spirit. I choose today to LOVE unconditionally and to put aside all of the deeds of the flesh. Amen.”