Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Context: Colossians 3:13-15 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
From the lexicon: Elect=chosen ones. Holy=set apart for service. Bowels=inward parts, heart. Mercy=compassion Kindness=goodness. Humbleness of mind=humility. Meekness=gentle strength. Longsuffering=patience.
In other words: Colossians 3:12: Since you are the beloved ones chosen by God cleansed and set apart for His service put on as one would a new set of clothes the qualities of heart filled compassion, goodness, humility, gentle (restrained) strength, and patience,
Paul goes further to say we are to bear with one another and to forgive grievances as the Lord forgives us (v.13). In addition, he admonishes us to put on love which binds us together producing harmony(v.14. Finally, he tells us to let the peace of Christ rule while being thankful (v.15).
Colossians 3:12 and the following verses describe the heart and actions of the new nature God places within us when we receive the Lord Jesus Christ into our lives. Paul, when he wrote this, did not give this as an option. It is what we ought to do and be when we are in Christ. Salvation is a matter of receiving God’s gift, but living for God is an act of the will. We chose to live for Him by choosing to put on the new nature He gives us as we would don a new set of clothes.
Lord I pray for grace to yield to the Holy Spirit Who dwells within me to empower the new nature You have given me to live as You would have me to live, showing Your grace to everyone I meet.