The past couple of days I have been reading Colossians. Maybe saying I’ve been consumed by Colossians would be a better way of putting it.
I knew I wanted to write a blog on what I learned, what I took in, and the amazing things that Paul wrote that applies to all Christians right now.
Colossians was a breath of fresh air for me. It was what I needed to just kick start a rewiring of my brain.
After reading it twice (it’s not that long) I noticed that my church had just finished up a series on book of Colossians. How perfect!
Before I unveiled my heart via this blog I listened to them all on the podcast app.
I was wrecked, again. Absolutely wrecked trying to soak up every single word AND take it with me.
I wish I could do the sermons justice and summarize each one here for you but I can’t and I don’t think that is why the Lord showed them to me when He did. I want you to listen to what Jessie and Doug said yourselves. It really tore me up and lit a fire beneath my feet.
So little background on the book of Colossians; it is a letter from Paul, that he wrote while in jail, to the people of Colossae. Paul being a man who had never met these believers before.
If you have never read the entire book of Colossians, I would encourage you to.
Paul is redirecting the people of Colossae’s focus, showing them that they have all they might ever need in Jesus. He is combatting lies that worked their devilish way into what the people of Colossae inherently believed.
I love the entire book of Colossians but so you’re not reading a short story from me on it, I want to focus on chapter three. Colossians 3:1; Since, then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (V.2) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (V.3) For YOU DIED, and your life is now hidden in Christ in God.
Set your minds on things above-I love that! Why do we worry so much about things that we can’t control? We have team changes coming up on the World Race, instead of worrying about who is going to be on my team, if I will like them, or if will we get along, I am CHOOSING to SET MY MIND ON THINGS ABOVE. To not worry about it.
My life is in God’s hands. I am leaving it up to Him! He has my best interest in heart-He knows what I need to grow, to be challenged, to fully thrive.
Colossians 3:5 PUT TO DEATH, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire and greed, which is idolatry. (V.6) Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. (V.7) You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. (V.8) But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. (V.9) Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off you old self with its practices (V10) and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of it’s Creator. (V11) Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
PUT TO DEATH whatever belongs to your earthly nature!
For so much of my life, I carried my old self around with me. If someone were to follow me around for a week, they would not have known I was a Christian because I did not put my old self to death after accepting Christ as my savior. I let my old self linger like the smell of BO in the Cambodian heat.
Since moving to Colorado I have laid down my old self and put on my new self. My renewed self. The self that bares the image of Christ. The self that He paid for with his death on the cross.
Looking back, I was so selfish. Was His death on the cross not enough? What more did I need?
Are there things that you need to rid yourself of?
Are you holding back?
Do the people around you know where you stand?
Are you so sold out that people want to know what you have?
Was His death on the cross enough?
Free yourself from those things that are restricting you from what the Lord holds for this next season before you. Trust Paul’s words like I have in realizing the depth of the power and authority gained in setting your sights on God Himself and walking in a perspective that’s heavenly. Learning to walk in this myself, it’s residing truth that the cross is always enough. For the love of Jesus, put to death what earth tells you to hold tighter to.
