Sometimes I pour over the Word trying to pin point what I want to write to you about. Sometimes I’ll write out a whole devotional and then erase it because God gives me something better to write about.
Today was just that. Five minutes ago I had two pages written on Colossians 3, I picked out a couple verses and wrote my thoughts. I then looked it up in my Message bible, and decided that there is NO way I could say it any better.
If you don’t have a Message bible, here it is:
So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.
Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. It's because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. It wasn't long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. But you know better now, so make sure it's all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk.
Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
Colossians 3:1-17 (The Message)
I encourage you to use Biblegateway.com to look up different versions of verses! You never know what might stand out.
I think Colossians 3 is that little reminder we all need once in a while. Here we’re told by Paul to set our eyes on Christ, by looking up! He tells us to quit with the crap and focus on what is most important in our life: our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Look over the passage again, are there things that you find your self doing on a daily basis?
Do you lie too much? Do you easily get upset? Are you mean?
How’s that mouth? Are you using words that glorify the Father?
Paul goes on to tell us that we are CHOSEN to live this life of LOVE.
Love is a wonderful thing, so shouldn’t our lives reflect it? Shouldn’t our lives be nothing but praise to the Father? Shouldn’t we wake up everyday wanting Jesus? And go to bed thinking we didn’t get enough?
(if you agree say Amen!)
This life we get to live is by Gods grace…grace that we have been given. We are privileged to get to do this.
So, as Paul tells us, be even tempered, content with second place, and quick to forgive…and wear love! Never be without it!
Set you eyes on the things above, and forget about the trash in this world.
Spend every free minute you have with Jesus. Let your heart be on FIRE for God. Let His Word dwell in your heart. Let His love set you free!!
Jesus is with us all…ALL the time! His presence will never leave us, because we are living with His Holy Spirit! Live a life of LOVE! That means reflecting Jesus in everything you do!
Do all your friends know you’re a Christ follower?
I encourage you to really think about the way you act, outside of you church. Do your go workers know you love the Lord? Do people you go to school with know you love the Lord?
Pray! Pray to the Glorious Father in Heaven to bring His presence to you and let it be known!
His love is more than we could ever ask for!
Live a life of love.
Your sister in Christ,
Meg
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