Day 6 - Colossians 3:1-14

1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.


Terrie's Comments:

ONE FOCUS - Jesus Christ Alone!!

Focus on things of heaven, learn to know your creator (who is Jesus) and become like Him!

Jesus is ALL THAT MATTERS... and He lives in us.

Now here is the crux of the matter... some place that I feel like I could work on for sure... Making allowance for other people's faults and forgiving everyone who offends me...

This is a great theory but it is one of those theories that would be great if everyone implemented it on the exact same day at exactly the same time.  It is so much harder to forgive everyone that offends me... especially when those that offend me usually do it frequently.  But it isn't supposed to be just a theory so I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me make this theory more of a reality in my life day to day.  

And once again Paul is talking about Love and unity!  Clothe ourselves with love which binds us all together in perfect harmony... sounds like the kind of clothes I could use in my life!

Who else struggles with not taking offense, letting go of hurts and clothing themselves in love?? anyone?


Tori's Comments:

Be eternity-focused.

So the difference between abstaining from sinful things and religiously following the law is your heart. I've sacrificed those desires by deciding to follow Jesus. And by wanting to dabble in sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and so many other evil desires, I am looking back, similar to Lot's wife in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. 

We need to 'put on' our new nature. We have to do it, consciously work towards keeping it on and remembering the freedom we've been given.

"Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us."

Sorry, one more time:

"Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us."

Wow.

And by putting on that new nature, we're putting on mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and most importantly, love. And if you ask me, I'll take that over lust, greediness, and anger any day.

So I'll move forward, farther into Christ.

No turning back.

Awesome reflections Tori!  

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!