How Do I React?

People have said mean things to me. People have said mean things about me. How do I react? I'll admit, I don't always react well. Sometimes I will dwell on what they said and stew over it. I may get angry. I may get upset. I may break down crying. But I handle things much better when I meditate on God's Word. Meditating on who He is helps me to take the focus off of what happened. Focussing on the promises He has made to me help to remember His truth and permanence. Remembering His Wod helps me to set my mind on eternal things and not things that can and should be forgotten.

Act Like It

Do you really want to admit that you are getting older. When you're a young child, it is exciting to hold up your fingers and say "I'm this many!" But as age catches up with you, the thrill abates. Do you boast "Woohoo! Another senior discount kicks in with this birthday!"?

God has set us apart for Him. He sent His son to die on the cross so that we could be made holy. We need to live in such a way that we demonstrate that we have been made holy. Our lives should be a witness to what God has done for us. If you've got catty remarks about the woman who spent the whole meeting texting, bite your tongue. Stop it with the drunken selfies that you're posting on Instagram. By the blood of Christ, you've been set apart and made holy. Act like it'

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.