Tag: Colossians 3
Set your minds!
Scripture reading for September 10: Colossians 3
“Set your minds on things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not things on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ Who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator.” Colossians 3:2-10
“As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.” (Proverbs 27:19) Solomon understood that a person’s heart and what resides there is reflected by his attitudes and actions. Jesus taught that out of the abundance of the heart come words and actions. (Matthew 15:18-20) These defile a person and bring God’s wrath. So Paul, writing to the Colossians, encouraged them to set their minds and hearts on the things above and Christ Who was seated at God’s right hand. In doing so, they would put on the ‘new self’ that was being renewed after the image of God the Creator.
In order to put on this ‘new self,’ the believers should put to death the earthly passions that once controlled their thinking and actions. To help them clearly understand, Paul listed a few of the most common earthly passions: sexual immorality, impurity, evil desires and covetousness. He emphasized that God’s wrath in judgment would come upon them if they continued in their old mindset. But in Christ, they received forgiveness of sins and cleansing of the heart through faith. Now they must choose to put off that old self marked by anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk. They were freed from earthly passions to set their minds on Christ and His holy life working in them now to prepare them for eternity.
Have you experienced the change in mindset that has resulted in putting off the old self? How is our world view affected when we set our minds on Christ seated at God’s right hand? What aspects of the ‘old self’ are you still dealing with and how does this instruction help you?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the clear instructions about making good choices to put off the old nature. I thank You that Christ took Your wrath for my sins on the cross. I invite the Holy Spirit to empower me to live in the ‘new creation’ and live life in the renewed image of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Peace and thanksgiving!
Scripture reading for September 9th: Colossians 3
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Colossians 3:15-17 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
Paul gave the Colossians simple advice about practically living in anticipation of Christ’s return. They were to rest in all that Christ had done for them and cultivate a thankful soul. Allowing God’s word to dwell in them, teaching others the word of God, and admonishing in love those needing correction would produce an atmosphere of continual peace. This would result in worship–both personal and corporate! Songs of worship and thanksgiving would flow from believers as they did their daily work with thanksgiving and great gratitude to God from whom all things flowed into their lives.
Observations for over-comers: A thankful heart based on living out the promises of God’s word produces abundant peace and rich worship to overcome the world, flesh and Satan’s traps! “If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river, you righteousness like the waves of the sea.” (Isaiah 48:18)
Christ is your life!
Scripture reading for September 10th: Colossians 3
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)
Paul appealed to the church to become heavenly-minded! Resurrection truth was that they had identified with Christ in His death but also in His resurrection. Christ was now seated at the right hand of God and so were they! Where their treasure was, their hearts and minds must be centered as well. Their old life was gone–dead with Christ on the cross and taken out of the way. Their new life had arrived–alive in Christ’s eternal life above. Jesus Christ would come again and they must be focused and ready to appear with Him in glory! This was a new way to view life laid out by their pastor to help them.
As a result of this exchange, Paul went on to encourage the Colossians to put off any remnants of the old life, reckoning them dead through Christ’s gift of grace. They must put off sexual immorality, greed, lust, as well as anger, slander and lying. God’s wrath was coming because of these on those who were outside Christ.
On the positive side, the Colossians must clothe themselves with compassion, kindness and patience. Forgiveness should rule in all relationships because of Christ’s mercy towards them. Christ’s love must bind them all together in unity. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17) Christ’s life must produce fruit of the Spirit!