colossians.bible/colossians-3-13
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive on another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them together in perfect unity.-Colossians 3:12-14
Who are God’s chosen people? Are God’s chosen people one specific race or nationality? No, because God’s chosen people are those who have decided to follow him. That is why we are to live our life’s differently those who are still living apart from God. We have been set apart by God to his work here. And part of being different is to show the world true and genuine forgiveness and love. Why are we to show both forgiveness and love? The answer is very simple, because God has shown us forgiveness and love. Jesus told a story that illustrates this point. Jesus uses the example of a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And a servant who owed the king millions of dollars was called in pay his debt, but he was not able to pay and the king ordered that everything he had be sold to pay his debt. But the servant pleaded with the king for the king to be patient with, and the king canceled all his debt. However, shortly after this the very same servant met one of his fellow servants who owed him thousands of dollars and he demanded that his fellow servant pay him back right now. And just as he had pleaded with the king to have patience with him, so his fellow servant pleaded with him to have patience, but he refused and had his fellow servant thrown in prison until his debt could be paid in full. And when the king heard about this here is what happened.
Then the master called the servant in. “You wicked servant,” he said, “I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on you fellow servant just as I had on?” In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my Heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.-Matthew 18:32-35 NIV
Jesus’ whole point of this story was to show us that God has shown us a great deal of kindness, compassion, patience and love. And because we have been shown all these things it is only fitting that we should turn around and show them to the people around us.