Truth in Advertising

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14

God brings me inspiration in the most unusual ways some times. This time a commercial for an insurance company - Liberty Mutual is the springboard. The opening lines of the commercial say: “We are imperfect humans living in a beautifully imperfect world.” Isn’t that the truth? 

One look at a newspaper or the evening news confirms, beyond a shadow of a doubt just how imperfect humanity is. Our own attitudes and responses to the people and world around us are also at times evidence of this imperfection as well.  

I love that God, the Creator of us and our world still loves us even though we, at the moment are so imperfect. Jesus, the incarnation of that infinite and perfect Creator came to tell us in person how much He loves us and the lessons He taught on how to live closer to perfection are powerful in their simplicity. Put on the clothes that lead to perfect unity - compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love. 

Imagine how your relationships would be if you treated each member of your family and all your friends the way Jesus treats you. You would find a new unity, a perfect unity in those relationships. Imagine what your neighborhood, city, state or nation would be like if each individual who calls Jesus Lord treated every other person with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love. We will never have absolute perfection on this planet - that perfection is for another time and place - but we can get closer if we follow the path laid before us.

There is hope…Sometimes, there is truth in advertising.

A Prayer
Father - Thank you for loving us even though we are not perfect. Thank you for showing us compassion. Thank you for your kindness. Thank you for showing us what real humility and gentleness looks like. Thank you for being patient with us and for Your forgiveness. Help us to treat others the way You treat us - that we might be bound together in perfect unity. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.