Growing in Favor with God
Colossians 3:12-17 (Year C, Christmas 1)
December 28, 2003

The Gospel Lesson ends with the words: “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:52 NIV)”  The idea here is that even Jesus, as a human child, grew in his relationship with God.  That idea of Christian growth is detailed in the Epistle Lesson from Colossians.  If our Lord increased and grew spiritually, how much more should we his followers do the same.

1.  Growth in virtue.  I avoid speaking of values because such language infers there are no moral absolutes – only what one individually values.  Rather, I prefer the biblical language of virtues.  The Holy Spirit living in our lives gives us the ability to lead, if we choose to obey the Spirit, the virtuous life.  The Christians life is a CHANGED life.

The virtues listed here are all virtues of how we deal with each other.  Relational virtues: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Why is that?  Because the Christian life is experienced within the community of the Church.  In order to sustain community certain virtues are necessary.

Compassion = to put one’s self in another’s place so that you can extend mercy.

Kindness, = not dealing harshly with others.  Treating them tenderly.  Sweetness of spirit.

Humility, = a lack of arrogance towards others, the attitude that others deserve the first place more than we ourselves.

Gentleness = strength under the control of God.  The same word used of domesticated animals.

Patience = means that we do not give up on one another in the body.  Never grows bitter or cynical.  Longsuffering.

Forbearance = putting up with each other.  An attitude of toleration of one another’s differences and failings because we know that we are all on the same journey of faith.

Forgiveness  = treating others in the body with the same forgiveness God treats us.  We are going to have to develop an attitude of forgiveness because we will continually be hurt, disappointed, betrayed by those closest to us in the Body of Christ.  Forgiveness does not excuse this behavior but seeks reconciliation so that lives are changed and mended.

But all of this is too much for us to remember sometimes.  So we bind it all up with LOVE.  Agapē love is not a feeling of warm tenderness or affection. Rather it is an act of the will to put the good of the other before our own good.

A 4-year-old boy was waiting with his mother in the doctor's office. They  were discussing all kinds of great issues such as "What am I doing here?" and  "Where's the doctor?" and "Why isn't God married?" -- things like that.

Finally, the little boy asked the ultimate question: "Why doesn't God ever just get tired and stop?"

His mother thought a long time before she answered. Then she said, "God is love, and love never gets tired." 

That’s why we have to bind all the virtues together with love because LOVE NEVER GIVES UP.  IT NEVER STOPS.  IT NEVER QUITS.

2.  Growth in the peace of Christ.  Col. 3:15 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.”  The peace of Christ is the UMPIRE of our hearts.  When we cannot determine how to react to a situation in the body the Peace of Christ is to guide us.  Put Jesus as the arbiter over the conflicting emotions in our hearts. 

Shalom peace leads to WHOLENESS AND ORDER.  Not merely the absence of conflict.

3.  Growth in WORSHIP. 

And be thankful.  [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Col. 3:15b-16

Gratitude toward God, thankfulness.  Remind ourselves over and over of all that has been done for us by God. 

Being saturated with the Word.  Know the Scriptures.

Singing psalms (Actually singing the Scriptures of the psalms).

Singing hymns (Songs of CELEBRATION that have deep theological content).

Spiritual songs (Songs that tell of God’s mighty deeds and thank him)

All this singing was from the heart.

4.  Growth in Christ-centered living.  At every moment of our lives we are to ask ourselves, can I do this action in the name of Jesus Christ?  Can I say that I am doing this consistently with the Character and Person of Jesus Christ? 

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Col. 2:17

Are my words consistent with the Character and Person of Jesus Christ?

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Col. 3:12-17 (ESV) 

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,  [13] bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  [14] And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  [15] And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.  [16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  [17] And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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