Colossians 3:12–14 ¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Remember who you are. When you have faith in Jesus, you can be certain that you are part of God’s chosen people. He calls you “holy and dearly loved.” By the grace of God, through faith, you are as much a part of God’s chosen people as Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, Joseph, David, Solomon, Zechariah and Elizabeth, Joseph and Mary. God has put His name on you and brought you into His family. Remember who you are.

You have this status only because of God’s great love for you, love that led Him to come down here and pay for all you sin so that you could be brought back into His fold, so that you could have a loving relationship with your Creator instead of being separated from Him for eternity. He did that. He made it all possible.

When you recognize what God has done and who He has made you in Christ, you have the desire and the motivation to live the way He wants you to live.

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience

How often is our “wardrobe” the exact opposite? We forget who we are and what God has done for us. Our “garments” are more like anger and resentment and pride and harsh words and impatience! This seems to be even more pronounced as election season is upon us. Christians, remember who you are.

Remember that you can disagree with someone without being harsh and unkind. And when you are mistreated, follow the example of Jesus. Forgive as you have been forgiven. Show compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

And over all these virtues put on love

That is how Jesus lived. He loved people. He showed love to all those He encountered, even those who opposed Him. And He showed the full extent of His love in letting Himself be the sacrifice to pay for the sin of the world.

Jeremiah 31:3 “I have loved you with an everlasting love;”

Remember who you are. A dearly loved child of God who has been called to respond to His love by loving you neighbor.