:: this post is a part of the 3.31 IMPACT series ::

If you would like to be encouraged further in living a live a life of impact, grab a copy of Impact My Life: Biblical Mentoring Simplified.

Focus

Colossians 3:12 ESV
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience . . .

Decision

Have you stopped to think about what it means to live as though you’re already chosen?

Set apart by God.

Chosen by Him.

His very beloved.

This is the starting point friends.

[Tweet “This idea of being chosen is what gives life to our living.”]

We’ve all experienced the effects of not being chosen. We know what if feels like to walk through a tough time and experience a lack of patience and compassion from those we wish would lift us up — those who should choose to love us as Christ does instead of with a critical and harsh spirit.

And we can all admit we’re guilty of being equally unkind to others  — coming down hard on a friend with a “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” wise crack rather than walking in compassion and humility.

If we want to live lives of impact that reflect they character of God, we have to start in the most humble position of all — at the foot of the cross and receiving the gift of being chosen by Him.

Only then, can we receive the type of love that compels us live as Christ does — as one who exemplifies compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

It’s not only about studying the person of Jesus and mimicking His example as we engage in relationships with our family, friends, and even strangers. It’s about receive who He for ourselves, first. Receiving His compassion and kindness into our hearts and letting that overflow onto others. My friends, it’s a choice — a choice to recognize first that we’re already chosen and from that identity-freeing place, to live as God’s holy and beloved children.

Surrender

Lord Jesus, thank you for demonstrating for me the life of a compassionate, kind, humble, meek, and patience servant. Thank you, that in You, I can put my flesh aside and yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, so that I may  cultivate these character traits. I know it will take focus and discipline, confession and repentance for you to work out of me my old-self tendencies and make more like You. Jesus, I surrender to your work. In Your Strong and Powerful Name, Amen.

Reflection

Do you know that you’re chosen by God?  Would you be willing to seek the Lord in about this today? Will you allow the way He calls you to live to be an overflow of Him in you, rather than one more thing to strive after doing?

If you’d like more encouragement on this topic, download the Relationships: Making Sense of It All resource.