Christians should all look alike: compassionate, kind, humble, gentle and patient (v 12). The family resemblance should be striking. We are all children of the same Father. We have all experienced his love and forgiveness. So we should love and forgive each other (see 1 John 4:19–21).

Whenever this happens, it is a miracle of God’s grace and evidence of his work in our lives, both individually and as a church family. There will be grievances to forgive. That is a fact of life this side of heaven. How we respond is the issue. Paul’s antidote to resentment is gratitude and praise, teaching and admonition. We need to work together on this project of transformation. 

But this is not just about hard graft. The words love, peace and gratitude season this passage. This is truly a labour of love, as God works in and through us to change us and to change the world. Whatever we do, it is in his name. Paul urges us to make it the right stuff!

‘O Lord, let me not henceforth desire health or life except to spend them for you, with you and in you.’¹

This whole new wardrobe of Christly possibilities is a wonderful promise. We can be clothed with qualities that resonate with the fruit of the Spirit.² Look carefully at the list of five qualities that balance yesterday’s two sets of five. Nobody thought these were virtues in the pagan world, and they still do not today. No obvious human ambition is listed, rather, there is a startling new way. 

Compassion heads the list, for it is a peculiarly Christian word of deep sensitivity and tenderness towards those who are suffering. Nobody has modelled this like Jesus did. It is accompanied by kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. These Christly qualities radiate beauty and build relationships. Practically, they result in not only being able to bear with problem people but to forgive them for the problems they cause us. Hanging in the wardrobe as an overcoat over all these virtues is love, which uniquely sums up Christian ethics. Putting on these qualities is essential for us to live in peace and grow together, learning more of Christ’s word (v 15). The quickest way to destroy unity and peace is to act in ways opposite to this list. Unkindness, pride, harshness and impatience destroy relationships at a stroke.

Interestingly, verse 16 mentions song as having a role in teaching us God’s truths, as well as enabling praise and thanksgiving. The three types of song cannot easily be separated, but they testify to worship’s variety and richness and our learning and gratitude within it. All this teaching about a daily choice of Jesus involves everything we think, say and do (v 17). I believe that one of the tasks of a daily quiet time with the Lord involves choosing Christly clothes for the day ahead. 

Today’s passage challenges us deeply: will the people who meet us know that we have opened the Christly character wardrobe? Or not? 

¹ Blaise Pascal, 1623–62  ² Gal 5:22–26