“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12-14)

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved…” Don’t you love that? What an expression of value assigned in Christ. We are chosen, holy and dearly loved. This alone should give incentive to be intentional with how we live; which is Paul’s aim—to contrast where we came from with where we are going as Christ’s life-giving Spirit changes us from the inside out.