October 16, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Numbers and Colossians? Here’s today’s reading:
Colossians 3 (NIV)
Living as Those Made Alive in Christ
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.……Continue Reading
Colossians 3. Paul is explaining why we need to put aside our worldly ways , once we have Christ in our hearts we need to live for him, he’s given us the power to live for him, we need to rely on the Holy Spirit. My commentary says when we are tempted to sin, remember that we must stand before God. That should certainly help us to remember how we should be living. We are God’s chosen people verse 12 clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Learn to forgive as he forgave us!
How much better life is when we set our minds on things above, where Jesus reigns and where we are hidden with Him. There is so much in the world that is hard, discouraging and tempting, and yet how little all those things become when we compare them to the glories and riches that we have in Jesus. And when we do that, how easy it is to set aside the desires, thoughts and behaviors of our earthly nature. There really needs to be a putting off and putting on as we live our lives for Jesus. Putting off the old ways and clothing ourselves with all the attitudes and actions that reflect Christ in us. How much of those things is thinking about others more than ourselves. We should bear with each other and always be willing to forgive. And the natural result of all of this is peace and a desire to share it with others. These things will be reflected in the relationships we have, as well. Here Paul addresses the what, hows and whys for both those under authority and those in authority. Both should reflect the character and nature of Christ. In it we will find the glorious purpose that God has to have some in authority and under authority and fulfill His will in both. And remember, that Jesus is under the Father’s authority and yet is also one with Him.
So many good reminders here for my own Christian growth.. so easy to forget without reading the Word..
12 ¶ Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
”If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.“
Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV
The reality is that we died and our life is in Christ. Other passages say that we ARE seated with Christ: ”and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,“
Ephesians 2:6
While in our physical bodies, it is hard to grasp the spiritual reality we live in in Christ. Paul explains practically, physically, what this looks like: putting off old self, etc.
Our mindset should be on things above, always. Having our minds in the right place, leads to right thoughts and actions.
Setting our minds on things above allows us to remain in fellowship with the Lord and our thoughts to be focused on His kingdom. With all of the troubles and anxieties present in this world, we can find peace and rest in all things holy.
Amen, Sean!
Colossians 3
Colossians 3
When Trevor and I were discussing this chapter after we read it he said something so simple that struck me, He said so we just live like we are already in heaven. We get so caught up in this life we forget that God already did the heavy lifting. We let the temporary set backs of this life cloud the big picture of a life in eternity with Him. It really is about changing our mindsets to a heavenly one.
I love that!
We as believers are reminded since we are risen with Christ; we should be seeking things that are above and not things on this earth. It is true that we are still living in our physical bodies here on earth; but it is also true that we are new creations in Christ. We have the new nature which is in Christ; but also still while on earth; we still have the old nature. We are the servants of the one we obey; whether to sin with our old sinful nature or surrender to Christ with all that God has promised us. Paul like so many of us has struggled with the two natures as he has said in Romans 6 & 7. Rom. 6:11,12. {Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.} Rom. 7:16 {Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness?} Take note that even as believers we have the choice of surrendering to Christ or surrendering to sin. We are saved and have salvation by faith alone in Christ. But God still gives us the daily choice to follow Him or not. If we make our walk with Christ of no importance that is our choice and God will not force us; but it has been known to happen that if a believer is failing to follow Him and is instead working against Him; God will allow that believer to be taken early. At least that is my understanding from the things I have read. God does say that you are either for Him or against Him. Jesus says that if salt has lost it`s savor it is good for nothing but to be trodden under foot by men. Matthew 5:13. This doesn`t mean that just because a believer is to us taken before his time that it is because of sin. It could be for any a number of reasons; but God is the only one that really knows why. For example God could be sparing that person of doing harm in the future. Remember king Hezekiah who was very sick that he was dying. He prayed to God and God granted him 15 more years of life. But remember what he did? He showed his riches to a foreign king and God rebuked him for it through a prophet. He did much good before this for God and was known as a good king in Judah. The prophet was Isaiah and the foreign kingdom was Babylon. 2 Kings chapters 18-20 and 2 Chron. chapters 29-32. This is a challenge to all of us to walk rightly in the Lord. The same Babylon that would take the people of Israel away. God bless each one of us as we follow the Lord.
Set our minds and hearts on the things of God. Surrender our will to his will each day, be kind and humble, forgive one another and be grateful for all that you have. Do this and you will live a blessed, fruitful, satisfying life.