Chosen to be holy

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)

Chosen by God to be the 'holy people he loves'. Uhm...has God seen how little 'holiness' some of us actually have incorporated into our lives? I am included in that number of the 'unholy' because I still struggle to keep him central in my life and with choices that should be a 'no-brainer' for someone given such an important 'position'. Far be it from me to point a finger at anyone else without first taking a good look into my own heart and mind! Holiness isn't a one-time 'achievement' though - it is a lifetime of making right choices and confession when we have made wrong ones!

You must clothe yourself with:

Tender-hearted mercy - forgiving each other as the Lord forgave you. That is a pretty tall order, but it is instruction that cannot be overlooked or 'discounted' by some form of 'excuse' for either being unkind to one another or holding onto slights that we should have let go of immediately. God's children are to be known for their ability to 'turn the other cheek', but also for their compassionate and tender actions toward one another even in the face of 'unreciprocated kindness'.

Humility - it really goes without saying that to genuinely walk in kindness and show tender-hearted mercies to one another one needs to maintain a humble opinion of oneself. It doesn't mean that we have an 'absence of self' but that we have learned to think of others, not just ourselves. 

Gentleness - this one definitely requires humility because a 'gentle approach' to some of life's challenges and challenging people can take some 'finesse' at times. "Prautes" is the Greek word for gentleness or meekness and carries the meaning of a gentle strength that is seen best when under pressure.

Patience - none of the other things required here would be possible if patience was not also part of the 'mix'. Patience without provocation is easy - patience under fire is much harder, is it not? Yet, God's requirement is that we love as he loved - with mercy, in humility, with strength that doesn't give out under pressure, and in a patient manner. Just sayin!