Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; (14) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you must also do.  (14) But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.  (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (17) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the Apostle Paul and the third chapter of this letter addresses the positive qualities of Christian living – the qualities of grace.  The Christians at Colosse have been given eternal life – resurrected life – which demands certain behavior.

Paul tells his readers that they are the elect of God: they have been chosen and it is personal. They – and we – have been forgiven by Christ and should know that they and we, had nothing to do with earning or deserving forgiveness. Paul lists Christian virtues, modeled by Christ, to draw a general picture of what the ChristIan church should look like. They – and we – are told to set our hearts and minds on Christ and our transformation as new men and women is compared to taking off old clothing – our grave clothes – and dress ourselves in clothes of our new mindset and life.  We are new people and are to act like it.   We are admonished to recognize our old ways – as unforgiving people, self centered and prideful, and put away the  old man/woman. We are to change our thinking and live to reflect our transformation in Christ.

In verse 15 Paul speaks of the peace that surpasses understanding and quiets our minds and hearts. This peace will enable us to make decisions regarding the conflicts of life. It’s not that God helps those who help themselves but God helps those who realize they cannot help themselves. We are to be thankful  and to do all in the name of the Lord. God doesn’t exist for us, we exist for Him.  Salvation history is not for us but it is for the glory of God.  It is that attitude that lifts us and be thankful it is so. We are beloved of God.