新生活的守則
歌羅西書三章14至17節
14在這一切之外，要存著愛心，愛心就是聯絡全德的。
15又要叫基督的平安在你們心裡作主；你們也為此蒙召，歸為一體；且要存感謝的心。
16當用各樣的智慧，把基督的道理豐豐富富地存在心裡，（或作：當把基督的道理豐豐富富的存在心裡，以各樣的智慧），用詩章、頌詞、靈歌，彼此教導，互相勸戒，心被恩感，歌頌神。
17無論做甚麼，或說話或行事，都要奉主耶穌的名，藉著他感謝父神。
信息分享
保羅在這幾節經文論到「愛的結連」。「結」可以將不可連的東西連繫起來；同樣地，愛心也可以將教會的肢體連結起來。任何一個群體，早晚都會出現分裂的危機。唯有愛心，才能使信徒即使意見不合，也繼續連結起來。
保羅再列出其他的三個方面，都是與基督徒生活息息相關的，它們分別是：基督的平安、基督的話語和基督的名。許多時候，基督都會以祂的平安來引導我們作決定。例如，我們可以反問自己：「我如果決定做這件事，我的內心是否有基督的平安？」若然沒有這份平安，我們的決定便可能是錯。
第16節提醒我們，基督徒應該非常熟悉神的話語，以致神的話語能經常引導他的生活。詩人說：「我將你的話藏在心裡，免得我得罪你」(詩一一九11)：「少年人用甚麼來潔淨他的行為呢？是要遵行你的話」(一一九9)。我們若然不認識神的話語，又怎能按照祂的心意來生活呢？
保羅在第17節再次提到他主耶穌的名──就是他所愛慕的名。我們要測試自己做某件事是否正確，其中一個最佳的方法，就是反問自己：「我可否在做這件事的同時，祈求主耶穌的幫助呢？我能否將這件事帶進祈禱之中呢？」
基督徒生活的另一個重要特徵，是懂得凡事感恩。最容易導致教會分裂的，就如信徒之間彼此抱怨。最能夠吸引別人參與教會的，莫如信徒經常在一起向神快樂感恩。今天就嘗試懷著一顆喜樂感恩的心去生活吧！看看會有何不同？
RULES FOR THE NEW LIFE
Colossians 3:14-17
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Message
Here he speaks about the 'bond of love'. The mortar or cement which holds bricks together is called the 'bond'. In the same way love is that which binds the Church together. The very real temptation in any group of people is sooner or later to tear themselves apart. Love is the one bond which will hold them together even though they may not always agree in everything else.
Paul touches on three other aspects of our Christian life; the peace of Christ, the word of Christ and the name of Christ. So often that peace which Christ gives can be the guide in making decisions. For example, we can ask 'Do I have peace in my heart in doing this or that?' Whatever disturbs the peace that Christ gives must be wrong and our decision must be against that particular action.
Then the thought of verse 16 is that the Christian is to be so at home in the Word of God that it will flow freely through his life. What did the Psalmist say? 'Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy Word'. If we are strangers to the Word of God, we will never I live like he wants us to live. .
In verse 17 Paul speaks again of the name he loves, the name of Christ. One of the best tests of our actions is 'Can I do this thing and at the same time ask for Christ's help? Can I say it and in the same breath speak of him?'
Another great characteristic of the Christian life is gratitude or giving thanks to God. Nothing so divides a church as a spirit of complaint. Nothing so brings people together in one happy spirit as thanksgiving. Try it, and see what it will do today.