A Providential New Year's Message

I'm occasionally called upon to read one of the lessons at our Episcopal Church.  There is usually an Old Testament reading and a New Testament reading.  New Testament readings are much more desired because they don't have all those unpronouncable names and because it's usually a little more relevant to the modern person.  At least it seems that way to me.  And so today, Dec 30th I was on the list to read.

My reading was from the New Testament and it was taken from St. Paul's Epistle to the Colossians.  Here it is:

As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Now...not everyone who is reading this is a Christian.  But everyone reading can take this message in and think about it in general terms.  It's about how we treat each other, how we love one another, and how we live our lives, day by day.

If this isn't a great message as we move into the new year, I don't know what is.  And in 2019...I think we're gonna need it!  Happy New Year!