Therefore, clothe yourselves with, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, affections, compassions, kindness, humility, objectivity of mind, long-suffering (Colossians 3:12).
Affections express deep, tender emotions, such as affection, empathy, and tender-heartedness. This is an attitude often expressed among the saints of different assemblies toward one another (2 Corinthians 7:15). It involves caring for another saint (Philemon 7). The brother who has worldly goods and shuts up his affections for a fellow saint is not expressing love toward God (1 John 3:17). This is not throwing pearls to swine—not giving money to beggars on the street. Rather, it is caring for a fellow saint who is in need of the basic things for life.
Compassions involve feeling pity or concern for someone in misery. We are to present our bodies as living sacrifices to God because of His compassion toward us (Romans 12:1). Our God is the Father of compassions (2 Corinthians 1:3), teaching us to show compassion to others.
Kindness is making others feel at ease. It is a gentle, warm, caring disposition. It is through the kindness of God that men come to salvation, not through threats of judgment (Romans 2:4—some translations use goodness; however, that is a different Greek word). This is not a disposition that comes from within ourselves, for there are none who do kindness (Romans 3:12); rather, it is a result of manifesting who we are in Christ to those around us.
Humility is having a proper frame of mind. With humility, objectivity of mind, and long-suffering, we bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2). We do not want to display a false humility that is based on the neglect of the body through a self-imposed religion; rather, with a proper frame of mind, we should esteem others above ourselves (Philippians 2:3; Colossians 3:12).
Objectivity of mind is a mindset that remains focused on the goal, not allowing itself to be distracted. This term is often mistranslated in our English Bibles, causing confusion. It does not mean meekness. It is an aspect of the fruit of the Holy Spirit by which we maintain a focus on expressing who we are in Christ and living a godly life in the face of persecution and trouble (Galatians 5:23).
Long-suffering is a long holding out of one’s anger against unreasonable people. Along with kindness and forbearance, God’s long-suffering toward us leads to a change of mind for salvation (Romans 2:4). We are to withhold our anger as other saints learn and grow, overcoming their sins and learning to walk in the newness of life they have in Christ—just as they also can express this toward us in our failures.