Another "therefore" - because you now wear the redeemed "uniform" of Christianity and have tossed the filthy rags of the old man aside, these are the things with which you should clothe yourselves. Your lives should exude compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
Show compassion - The nearer you draw to God, the more you should look on others as created in His image. If there is someone who "rubs you the wrong way" - especially if the person is in the body of Christ - examine your own spirit. Examine your own life for creature comforts you could give up to help those in need. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Eph. 4:32).
Be kind - As Mother Teresa said, “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”
Humility - (Full disclosure, I just finished Mother Teresa's biography! So here's another quote.) “If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are.” This is a quality missing from many today, including Christians and those in the ministry. But if we are to put on the uniform of Christ, we must put on his humility. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:5-8)
Gentleness - Be calm and don't lose your temper. We are working on this every minute at our house. My young children are usually sweet, but suddenly they will be almost at death blows over a piece of lint! They are learning to stop and "use their words"; I am learning to very rarely scream at them when I am frustrated. I pull out my "Michelle Duggar" voice the more upset I become, and it works!
Patience - Bear any evil words spoken against you or deeds perpetrated against you as Christ bore His suffering on the cross. Pray for unbelievers without giving up hope. Believe that no matter what the trial, God has a plan for your life and will see you through.
People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
― Mother Teresa
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