First Sunday of Christmas – Colossians 3:1-17
“God Wants Intimate, Holy Friends”

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember the Lord forgave you so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your heart for as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the message about Christ in all its richness fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other withal the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:12-17, NLT)

John Wesley once said, “There is no holiness without social holiness.”  My Dad use to say, “Holiness needs to work first at home or it isn’t real.”  The only way possible for us to live out this scripture is to fully surrender our egos to the Lord.

This passage of scripture holds all the key elements of our relationships to all other people.  Our actions, our attitudes, our words are to make a positive difference in other people’s lives.

“God chose you to be the holy people he loves.”  God wants intimate, holy friends to work together in his kingdom.

Prayer Song from Charles Wesley”  “Obedient faith that waits on thee Thou never wilt reprove.  But, Thou wilt form Thy Son in me and perfect me in love.”

– Pastor Stephen Floyd, First Church of the Nazarene