HOW TO LIVE UNIFIED

How to Live Unified


"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12 NLT
Paul reminds believers they are chosen (“elect”), set apart (“holy”), and deeply loved by God. Because of this identity, they are called to reflect Christ’s character. The “you must clothe yourself" 
is meant to be intentional, daily, and visible to others. This passage shows that the Christian life is not about self-effort alone but about aligning with the Holy Spirit and living out Christ’s love in 
relationships. How to be a witness for Christ? - Live out Christ love in relationships. The power of one.

Commands vs Suggestions.
What is a command?
A command is a directive — it tells someone (or something) exactly what to do.
Goal: Get a specific action carried out.
Tone: Often firm, direct, and leaves no room for refusal.

What is a suggestion?
A suggestion is a recommendation — it proposes an action but does not demand it.
Goal: Offer an option for consideration, leaving the decision up to the listener.
Tone: Softer, more collaborative.

Why does God command and suggest?
God Commands Because He Is Sovereign
Authority: God is Creator and King. Commands (like the Ten Commandments) flow from His authority.
Protection: Many of God’s commands are meant to protect us from harm — spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

Examples:
“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind… And a second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)
This is not optional — Jesus calls these the greatest commandments.
“Love the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 6:5) — directs worship rightly.
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.” - (John 13:34)
This is explicitly called a commandment by Jesus.

God Suggests Because He Honors Free Will
Invitation: God often frames His will as an invitation rather than a demand — letting us choose.
Relationship: True love and obedience must be voluntary. God doesn’t want robots, He wants relationships.
Examples:
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden…” (Matthew 11:28) — invitation, not a demand.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God…” - James 1:5 - This is an invitation to ask, not a forced requirement.

Suggestions (or invitations) show God’s patience and desire for us to willingly respond.

When we read Scripture, some verses tell us what to do (commands), others call us to choose (suggestions/invitations).
Our spiritual maturity grows when we respond to both — obeying His commands and willingly accepting His invitations.

Now. Let's break Colossians 3:12 down as we learn what is required to live unified.

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." Colossians 3:12 NLT

"Since God chose you..."
You’re not here by accident. God intentionally chose you. This echoes the doctrine of divine election—He initiated the relationship.
This gives your identity a rock-solid foundation. You belong to God because He wanted you.

"...to be the holy people he loves,"
You're set apart (that’s what holy means). Not just cleaned up, but purposed—different from the world.
And you're loved. That love is not distant or conditional—it's deep, committed, and sacrificial.

"You MUST clothe yourselves..."
This is about intentional daily action—like getting dressed.
Paul’s saying: don’t just feel these traits—put them on. Make them VISIBLE. Live them.
Why is VISIBLE so important?

"...with tenderhearted mercy,"
Compassion that feels deeply for others.
Compassion is the deep awareness of another person’s suffering, combined with a desire to relieve that suffering.
A heart that doesn’t just pity but wants to help—especially when someone’s hurting or struggling.
"kindness,"

Goodness in action.
Treating others the way God treats you—graciously, without expecting anything in return.

"humility,"
Don’t think less of yourself—just think of yourself less.
It’s strength under control—choosing to serve rather than be served.
Mark 10:43-45: Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

"gentleness,"
Meekness, not weakness.
Responding calmly, even when you could lash out. This is power restrained by love.
Another word for this: Power restrained by God's Love

"and patience."
Willingness to endure discomfort or delay without blowing up.
It’s about sticking with people, even when they’re difficult.

Bottom Line: Let's Recap
Paul’s telling believers: Because God chose you and loves you, reflect His character. This verse isn’t a suggestion—it’s a charge to actively live out the gospel through your attitude and actions. It’s like your spiritual dress code for daily life.

In both Colossians 3:5 and 3:8, Paul listed five ways of life Christians are to avoid. In this verse, he offers five ways of life Christians ought to follow. In addition, he prefaces this list by referring to believers using three names. First, they are "God's chosen ones." God selected or elected them to be part of His family. Second, these believers are holy, which means "set apart." This is due to God's work in them, not their own good deeds. Third, believers are "beloved" by God (John 3:16). 

The first positive practice Paul gives is a compassionate heart. This is a response to God, and to others, which is filled with love and concern rather than selfishness. 

Second, Paul mentions kindness. The term refers to how a person treats others. 

Third, believers are to live in humility, a trait valued by God throughout Scripture (James 4:6). The gospel requires people to admit they are sinners in need of a Savior. As believers, we should recognize God's supremacy in our lives and how limited we are in comparison. Humility is also important so that we don't act arrogantly or unfairly towards other people. 

Fourth, Paul mentions meekness. This is not an attitude of fear, or the suggestion that Christians ought to be timid. Rather, it refers to gentleness, instead of a hard hearted response to others. A "meek" person is one who controls their strength and power, rather than abusing it. 

Fifth, Paul EXPECTS patience from believers. This and the other traits in this verse closely reflect the list describing the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23.
Final thought:

U.N.I.F.I.E.D

U – United
Stand together with a shared purpose and vision.

N – Nurturing
Foster growth, encouragement, and support for one another.

I – Intentional
Act with purpose and clarity in decisions and actions.

F – Faithful
Stay committed, dependable, and loyal through challenges.

I – Inclusive
Embrace diversity, value every voice, and work as one body.

E – Empowered
Equip and strengthen others to contribute their best.

D – Dedicated
Remain steadfast, focused, and committed to the mission.

"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Galatians 3:28 NIV

Living Word family - Choose to LIVE Unified.
Remember: Staying Unified we thrive in 2025