Colossians 3:12-14 (NLT)
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

I think that we’d all agree that we must clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. That’s human nature to do that, right?

Maybe, but hmmm, I don’t think so. It’s contrary to human nature – it’s why we’ve had laws/rules of conduct since the beginning of history.

It’s why Christ brought such a radical departure from what was normal and it’s how God’s way works. Yes, there are consequences and He’s wiped out a whole lot of people who got to far out there away from what was acceptable. Those corrections and wholesale destructions turn a lot of people off. Think about it – God wipes out civilizations who are to far past what is acceptable and many have a problem with that. What if those folks were your neighbor? Would you want someone/something to do something about it?

Yet, all the good things Christ taught us, the radical departure from what was, have been presumed by Western culture to be human nature and what we should all aspire to. That’s awesome, but let’s not forget who brought it to us and why He did.

1 Peter 1:13 (NLT)
13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.