“Protecting Your Home from the Unlove Virus”

Text Colossians 3:12-25

Verses 1-11 Describe how to treat the virus once it has infected your home.

• Set your mind on things above by embracing the values of the kingdom here on earth.
• Realize that you’ve been raised with Christ. When you were born again, the new you is as glorious and blameless as Christ Himself.
• Embrace things above, (i.e. heavenly values) and put aside stuff that is contaminating your love,
• The things listed in the first half of the chapter are symptoms of the spiritual pandemic that has been plaguing the world since the fall of mankind.

The “Therefore,” of verse 12 is about preventive measures to avoid becoming infected.

• The goal is not to be perfect but to be vigilant. The difference is like that between having a cut that you ignore and it becomes infected versus having a cut and dealing with it so it doesn’t get affected.

Main Idea: We protect our home from the unlove virus by receiving God’s affection and sharing it with each other.

Vs. 12 – You were chosen, holy and dearly loved.

• The Lord is the One who courted and pursued you.
• He has redeemed your past to make out of it your relationship with Him in the present.

And I wrote this on Friday…
I always felt like a different kind of bird,
even as I flew in formation with the flock.
Me in all my expressions,
depth of feeling,
strange ideas,
exotic tastes and
eclectic interests.
Always searching for my best fit,
for where the full and unabridged version
of me could thrive.
And I would never have figured out
that I was not looking for a place at all,
but a Person.
I belong in Him.

• Isaiah 49:15-16 – “Can a woman forget her nursing child?”

12b clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

• Kacey Mya titled, 10 Ways to become more compassionate. (Click here for article) https://everydaypower.com/10-ways-become-compassionate/

My definition of spiritual growth: “The expanding and deepening realization of how much I matter to God.” It is the strength of this conviction that determines all other authentic and healthy expressions of Christian attitude and behavior.

13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

• Yes we are bearing with others but they are also bearing with us.

14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

• Love is the rope that binds the bundle.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

• Inner peace and peace between yourselves.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

• If you took one of these areas and made it a focal point of prayer. You will find two things happening. It will make a difference in your relationships. And it will create a cluster of other attributes.

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

• Like fashion models, do it all as a representative of Jesus Christ with name “attached” to our efforts by faith.

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

• Follow the other instructions in this chapter and this will work itself out.
• If you need an example, look at Jesus relationship with His Father.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

• Draw upon the Lord’s affection and you will view their instruction differently.

21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

• Don’t be overbearing. Major on the majors. Don’t take your frustrations out on your kids. Praise progress. Don’t hold out for perfection.

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

• Paul’s frame of reference here was not the American institution of slavery.

1. 1. Biblical slaves were slaves as result of war, or debt.
   2. One could only hold a slave for a certain period of time. This is different than American slavery, which was a lifetime.
   3. Another major difference is that in biblical slavery it was a serious crime to kill a slave. While American slave owners could do whatever they wanted with their slaves.
   4. Biblical slaves were not dehumanized. Their lower status was economic and political. They weren’t regarded as innately inferior. They were still considered to bear the image of God.

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

• This is related to verse 17

25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.

• A caution and a reminder that though we are forever loved by the Lord and never in jeopardy of anything less than His full commitment to us, we are not above the consequences of our actions.

By definition a disciple is a learner.

• True discipleship therefore is not a matter of “mastery” but of making adjustments. Jesus’ disciples made an adjustment from one side of the boat to the other, and scored a record catch.
• We often underestimate the potential of even small adjustments we can make in our lives. Yet, and yet the slightest turn of a screw is often the difference between whether an engine sputters or roars.

Conclusion: Protect Your Home from the Unlove Virus first by embracing God’s love for you and then using these tools, sharing it with our families.