By Bongiwe Ncube, a sophomore molecular biology/biochemistry major from Zimbabwe
Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17 (NRSV)
When we behold, we become. It is so written of the children of God who beheld God and were radiant, their faces were not ashamed (Psalm 34:5). Beloved, Colossians 3:12-17 calls us to do the same, to yearningly set our gaze on God to the extent that God’s Spirit weaves into the fabric of our beings.
Though “no one has ever seen God” (John 1:18), we have witnessed God through the embodied virtues mentioned in Colossians 3:12-14. Indeed, we ought to clothe ourselves with these virtues which are characteristic of God’s Self because in doing so, we experience wholeness from God just as the woman with the 12-year old issue of blood did. No other garment could hide her nakedness which took the form of shame. But when she beheld the Messiah and dared to touch the hem of His garment, she became what she saw, she experienced what she beheld, the wholeness found in the Messiah. And we do not exercise these virtues because it is in vogue to do so. Rather we take up this godly vestiture in order to share with other people the authentic love that we have found in fellowship with God.
Now, in this season we are called to remember God’s greatest expression of love for us, which is the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, clothed in flesh. And for this we are grateful.
Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17 (NRSV)
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.