God's Glory Church

“Clothe yourself… in sincere charity.” — Colossians 3:12

How does a person feel when they walk in the shoes of members of the royal family? Angela Kelly, the daughter of a longshoreman and a nurse, knows this first hand. She was the late Queen Elizabeth’s official wardrobe during the last two decades of the monarch’s life. One of her duties was to carry new shoes for the late queen as she walked around the palace in them. There was a reason for this: compassion for an elderly woman who sometimes had to stand for a long time at ceremonies. Because they wore the same shoe size, Kelly was able to save the queen from discomfort.

Kelly’s personal approach to Queen Elizabeth reminded me of the apostle Paul’s warm encouragement to the church in Colossae: “Clothe yourselves…with sincere charity, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering” (Col. 3:12). If our lives are “built on” Jesus (Col. 2:7), we become “like God’s chosen, holy and beloved” (Col. 3:12). He helps us to put off the “old man” and “put on the new man” (vv. 9-10), to become those who love and forgive others, because God loved and forgave us (vv. 13-14).

All around us are those who need us to show them compassion in the daily difficulties of life. If we do this, then we are walking in the shoes of the King, Jesus, who always shows us compassion.

How has God shown you compassion? Who can you show His love to today?

Lord Jesus, thank you for your forgiveness and love. Help me not only to receive them from You, but also to give them to others.

Author: James Banks