The new Christian apparel takes on many hues. Romans 13:14 tells us to put on Christ. In Colossians 3:10, we are taught to put on the new self. Then in yesterday’s verse, 3:12, we are instructed to put on the seven Christian virtues. Now we are exhorted to put on love, like a cloak that covers over all else. Being properly attired does matter for the Christian!

Keeping in mind that “God is love,” as the apostle John asserts (1 John 4:8), Paul places love at the pinnacle of Christian virtues. This is agape love (sacrificial action) as opposed to philos love (brotherly affection). Putting on Christ is putting into action Christlikeness. And in Christ, God so loved the world that He gave—that’s an action; His only Son—that’s a sacrifice (John 3:16). Love is the Christlike trait that binds Christian together, so that our fellowship is more than just being members of the same organization. We are a family defined by love for one another. This is the “perfect bond of unity.”

Paul’s follow up about peace is intricately intertwined with love. For only where there is genuine Christlike love will there be peace in our relationships. Christians are not called to just tolerate one another. True, we are to be patient and forbearing (Col 3:12-13), but God hasn’t called us to do these things passively. We are to actively love by being patient and forbearing. We cannot just do our part, as though we love 50/50 with other people, meeting them halfway. No! Such a notion will result in a virtual traffic jam, where love gets queued up and the least negligence backs it all up—into open conflict. But unconditional love more than compensates for each other’s failings.

All these are needed in the body of Christ, the church. Indeed, as Paul has reiterated both in the book of Colossians as well as Ephesians, we as Christians are called to be the body of Christ, one body and thankful. Yet so often we fight and bicker with each other, even while doing the Lord’s work and worshipping the same God who is over all, our Master as well as our Savior. Each morning, we need to “put on Christ” and throughout the day to be constantly reminding ourselves of how Christ should look on us when we go through the struggles of relationships. When people observe our behavior and life style, they should see an uncanny resemblance to Christ. As for ourselves, we see how far short we fall. But, in hope, we know that He is at work conforming us to His image.