Are You Finished With That?

OK, I'll admit it. I'm not much of a neat freak. When I'm finished using something, I'll often leave it laying around somewhere instead of putting it away. Sometimes, I'll see it laying there and pick it up and use it again before putting it away. Convenient or just lazy?

Paul is telling us here in Colossians to put things away. Of course, if we're to be putting them away, that means we need to be finished with the,. Anger: be finished with it. Rage: stop it and put it away! Malice: put it down and put it away. Slander: but, I like slander. Nope. Put it away. Abusive language: no more. Put it away.

All of this belongs to our old self. Since, we have died with Christ and are living in Him, we have a new self. None of this belongs to the new self. Put it away and put on your new self. You're going to like it.

Keep Seeking

If you have been raised with Christ...

Were you once dead in your sins? Are you now alive in Christ? You have been raised with Christ! At the Holy Spirit's leading, you sought the things above and found them. But, don't stop seeking them.

Every day, every hour, seek the things above for that is where Christ is to be found. Don't just look up and gaze at the clouds or the stars. Look up and see the magnificence of Christ!

Why Do You Stll...

Have you ever known someone who you could tell from the way they talked wasn't from around here? Could you tell by the way they dressed or acted? Maybe you know someone who moved from Florida to Massecgusetts and in the middle of winter when there's a foot of snow on the ground, they're still wearing shorts and a t-shirt outside. Would you ask them why they're dressed that way when it doesn't seem to be appropriate? What would you say if they responded, "I'm from Florida. I always wear shorts and a t-shirt." When someone has made such a change in state, they should change their actions in a manner appropriate to their new state.

Likewise, when we have truly become Christ's, having moved from the kingdom of the world and of he law to the kingdom of God and of grace, should we keep living according to the law? Absolutely not! The law may be useful to us, but grace should shape who we are. Never should we fear to step out in faith and follow Christ because we fear what the world will think of us. We are dead to the world and alive in Christ! The chains are broken. You are free! It is easy not to change and still do what you have always done, but you dear reader aren't from around here. Live like it!

The Reality Is Christ

How many things do we pursue because of what others want of us? Do we worry about whether to do something because it makes us a better Christian? The answe, sady for me, is yes. There are plenty of times I worry about having to do this or having to do that because that's what people expect of me or want to impose on me rather than just kicking back and doing what God wants me to do. These things, in fact, may be things that God does want me to do, but it is not these things that make me a better Christian. These things are only a shadow and though the have the image of Christ, they are not Christ! The reality is Christ! 100% authentic reality - Christ! I want reality - not fantasy or virtual reality. I want Christ!

So, I will seek Him and Him only. If He leads me to do these other things that others want me to do, I will do them because He wants me to. 

Made Alive In Christ

Dead. I was dead. I had reaped what I sowed. My sin had earned it's wages. I was dead and there was nothing I could do about it. I was dead and alone.

But He made me alive. I didn't do it; He did. He made me alive with Him. I was no longer alone. I was with Him. My sin had been forgiven. Not just one sin, but all of it. The stench of death that it brought me was gone. I was made alive. I am alive! Are you alive? Praise God!

Living Life In Christ

Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, (Colossians 2:6 NET)

How am I to live my life? Just as I have received Christ. What does it mean to have received Christ? The verb here can be taken to mean to have taken on as an associate or companion. If Jesus is our associate, we're known to be with Him and He is known to be with us. If Jesus is our companion, we can know that we are not alone. The verb can also be taken to mean to have received by transmission - meaning not from us but to us, from God to us. We have received or taken Jesus on not just as an associate or companion but as Lord - we belong to Him and He has the power and authority to choose how to use us.

With Jesus as our associate, companion, and master, we are to make our way in life. We are to make progress. We are to make use of the opportunities given to us. As we walk through our lives, we should know that Christ is with us and it should be known that He is with us. As we make progress - no turning back - we should remember we are not alone. As we make use of the opportunities, we should know those opportunities came from our Lord and we should respond to them as He wants us to!

To be known as Christ's is a wonderful thing. Walk well, dear reader.

Knit Together

Colossians 2:2 My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 

Have you ever watched someone knitting? It is very deliberate work. They may be counting stitches to make sure that they got the precise number of stitches that they need in a given row. If they find a problem, they may rip out some (or even all) of it and go back and do it again until it is correct. There may be people who ask them "what is it you are knitting?" Regardless of whether it is a simple scarf or beautiful sweater, the final result is a beautiful work of art into which much time and effort went.

Paul wants that our hearts be knit together in love. It takes time and effort and of course love to knit hearts together. As God begins to knit our hearts together, it may not always be obvious what they will look like when finished. Sometimes, we will make mistakes along the way and need to recognize those mistakes, confess, repent, rip them out, and reknit them. But how exciting is it as we begin to see the beautiful work of art as they are being knit together! Are you ready and willing to be knit together with fellow believers? Be encouraged and be assured that God is making something beautiful of it and that through it, He will reveal Christ to you and those around you!