Ash Wednesday services at all Resurrection locations will be held on schedule today.
Scheduled programming has resumed for Thursday, February 13 at all Resurrection locations.
12 Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other. 14 And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 The peace of Christ must control your hearts—a peace into which you were called in one body. And be thankful people. 16 The word of Christ must live in you richly. Teach and warn each other with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
The letter writer, Paul, and his protégé Timothy composed this letter to the Colossians, probably from a prison cell in Rome. * Paul had not been to Colossae himself (cf. Colossians 2:1), but knew about the issues the church there faced. He wrote to encourage embracing the new life and identity that Christians were to put on as they followed Jesus’s example. He urged them to embody forgiveness, peacefulness, and thankfulness, even in tough situations.
Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me. Help me love myself and others as boldly as you do. Amen.
Darren Lippe, who serves as a Couples Small Group co-leader and Men's Group Leader, while volunteering in a variety of other capacities at Resurrection, wrote today’s Insights. He and his wife, Doris, first met in a Resurrection Single Adult Sunday School class in 1997 and were married in what is now the Student Center. They are empty nesters with 2 college-aged sons, Matthew and Jacob.
As we consider today’s passage, I thought it might be helpful to “visit” with Mr. Leland Lowe, who, along with his wife, owns a local tailoring shop.
DL: Mr. Lowe, thank you for your time.
Mr. Lowe: Please. No need to be so formal. All of our clients just call my wife & I “Lee Lowe & Stitch.”
DL: I like the Disney movie reference. What is the tailoring business like?
Lee Lowe: It is typically sew-sew. Every once in a while we have some drama, like a client who ordered a custom jacket, vest, & pants & then refused to pay for them. Needless to say, a suit is pending.
DL: Today, I thought you might help us better visualize Paul’s charge to the Colossians.
Lee Lowe: Ah, yes. Actually, the Bible has lots of references to tailors & those who work to alter & mend garments. Who can forget the powerful verse in Galatians, “As you sew, so shall you rip” or Jesus’ persuasive “Parable of the Sewer”?
DL: Um, I’m don’t think those are really talking about tailors & seamstresses.
Lee Lowe: Huh. Well, as we tailors like to say, “I’ll be darned.” Anyway, Paul is using our wardrobe to help his readers (& us) understand that God isn’t interested in the current fashion trends or cool “business casual” look, but rather in a timeless style that demonstrates a Christian’s heart:
DL: Thanks for that breakdown. As we wrap up, I have to say your shop’s name is quite eye-catching.
Lee Lowe: Thanks. We wanted to emphasize that we will always provide prompt service, sometimes even while you wait–hence our name, “Tailor Swift.”
DL: Thanks for your time.
* “Paul would have written these letters during his imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28:16), or possibly during an earlier imprisonment in Ephesus or Caesarea (Acts 24-26).” J. R. Daniel Kirk, introduction to Colossians in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 381 NT.
** Andrew Purves, study note on Colossians 3:1-17 in The Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible. HarperSanFrancisco, 2005, p. 2143.
*** Hamilton, Adam, The Walk: Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life (p. 40). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.