On Jan 11, our Prime Minister launched the five-year Courtesy and Noble Values Campaign aimed at transforming Malaysia into a more caring, responsible and moral society. Crash courses on positive values will be conducted for all government servants.
 For some time now there has been public apathy. For example, newspapers carried reports recently that a pregnant woman and her unborn twins died after her husband tried unsuccessfully for 20 minutes to flag down a motorist to take them to the hospital after they knocked off the motorcycle by an irresponsible driver. Someone finally stopped to help but it was too late.
The call of the Prime Minister for a caring and compassionate society is one that we can be thankful for and support.
The Bible teaches that we as believers should be clothed with compassion. In so doing, we will not only please our Father in Heaven but also be a witness in our society.
Paul says, “ Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and were patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3: 12–14).
The command to “clothe” or “put on” indicates that believers must willfully choose to live according to this “code of conduct” or manner of life. Believers must put on:
- The garment of mercy and compassion, demonstrating concern and tender heartedness. Just as God has shown us mercy, this mercy must be seen and demonstrated to others (Isaiah 58:7, Luke 6:35–36);
- The garment of kindness, shown by a willingness to help those in need (1 Thess. 5:15);
- The garment of humility, demonstrating a servant attitude in our service to others (Philipians 2:3);
- The garment of meekness, expressing gentleness which means to have a “humble and yet strong state of mind” as we seek to be a blessing (Galatians 6:1);
- The garment of patience which is longsuffering (1 Thessalonians 5:14);
- The garment of forbearance (Romans 15:1, Ephesians 4:1–2, Galatians 6:2);
- The garment of forgiveness (Mark 11:25, Ephesians 4:32); and
- The garment of love – “the bond of perfection” which binds all these qualities together. It is a fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22–23) and fulfills or completes us in Christ (Mark 12:29–31, 1 Corinthians 13:13).
May the Lord help us to be model citizens so that we may lead others to become citizens of His Heavenly Kingdom!
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