Colossians 3:1-4

P3376 He takes us seriously- let’s take Him seriously too!  

/ DVH

Colossians 3:1-4:“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.

I love it when the bible gives us such clear instructions – don’t you? Do this, don’t do that … be this, don’t be that. The best response is: Let Jesus preside over every little thing! When I decided to choose what I should bother the Lord about, I ended up not being able to figure out what was important and what was not – so, in the end, I just gave everything to Him! I recommend dragging your eyes, ears and heart away from the demands, the yammering and hammering that invades everything, day after day. The enemy wants to use those things: the problems, the trials, the time wasting stuff, to exhaust us. he wants to make us too tired to give Jesus our all. 

I decided today was a good day to take a few minutes to notice and remember the things that Jesus Himself found important. Strangely enough — buying things we don’t need, focussing on the things we can’t change, even stuff like being entertained — isn’t on that list. Yet, in the middle of what we might call “ministry” the Lord Jesus still managed to enjoy other people’s company, plus He was not against people enjoying themselves either. I think He loves to be around US. 

From around the time when I was born, mankind seems to have gone rapidly downhill … I do hope that wasn’t me! 😂 Nah! I’m not that important or powerful – I can barely put my shoes on! Sadly, mankind seems to be treasuring transitory things, or situations, far above other people. Let’s face it, even money – no matter how much you have or don’t have – comes and goes very quickly! And other things like applause or acclaim can change on a whim. Almighty God put Himself into an obscure little Jewish family, in a tiny little town. He was  known by His parent’s names, and where He currently lived or where He was born. 

The bible tells us the Lord knew He had been sent here by His Heavenly Father — but that fact was never used to create notoriety or generate success. Especially the kind of stuff this world thinks of as success. Jesus always had the ability to do the things we call miraculous, but He valued His Father’s opinion and timing far above His own. For the last 40 months of His life, our Lord was far too busy demonstrating God’s love to others, to be at all concerned about what this world thought of Him. He knew what was really in mankind’s heart was unstable.

God’s book gives us the very things we need to hold onto and take seriously. However, this world will continue to bombard us with all kinds of motivation to be distracted from the very reason we are all still here. To serve Him!! Philippians 4:8 tells us: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

To live like that we may have to drag ourselves away from the 91st episode of some soapie, series, or some fabulous sport or other. Meanwhile – the church is chasing rainbows and trying to remain politically correct – and too many human beings are falling off the edge into hell! Jesus wasn’t rich. The only things Jesus left behind Him were the clothes He was wearing. And people still managed to fight over His tunic! Here’s something to chew on from Luke 12:27-31:

“Consider the lilies and wildflowers, how they grow [in the open field]. They neither labor nor spin [wool to make clothing]; yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory and splendour dressed himself like one of these.  But if this is how God clothes the grass which is in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You of little faith! So as for you, do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink; nor have an anxious and unsettled mind. For all the [pagan] nations of the world greedily seek these things; and your [heavenly] Father [already] knows that you need them. But [strive for and actively] seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.”

Yeah, I know! Bring that up! However, it’s great advice, and it can be necessary for calming an unsettled, distracted mind, as the world around us descends into ME first. It is time to ask yourself: “What am I chasing after today?” Sometimes we fume and fret, and waste our God-given time running after the very things we cannot change. The bible instructs us about how we can fight this trend, we need to chase His kingdom … Let’s think about how incredibly expensive our lives are to God and spend them chasing Him instead. Let’s take His Way of life seriously. Bye.👋

P 2748 Faith is now our reset button.

/ DVH

Colossians 3:1-4: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”

Colossians tells us that we have a clear focus – it’s a forever focus. Because of Jesus we have eternal eyes, so we can see what He sees. Now we see beyond the here and now, into whatever the Lord is doing – we don’t always understand … but we can learn. That broken-down car, or that angry person yelling at me, won’t bother me because now I am dead by choice. I’ve hidden myself in Him, under His blood, that made everything eternal possible.

This is what our PAST looked like — Colossians 3:7-10: “You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” 

Because of what Jesus chose to do for me, to set me free, now I have the power to choose to actively get rid of the ghastly stuff of this world, that weighs me down. Colossians says: ‘rid yourselves …’ I think that shows us that we have work we must do – with the Holy Spirit’s help. Our old way to live is no longer compulsory. It’s gone. Now we have the power to overcome our old ways of thinking and doing. So we become focussed on getting rid of that stuff, step by step, as the Lord convicts and convinces us of sin. The old grouchy way of life still rears its ugly head, but we choose a different response. We do everything we do now, simply because we love Him. 

Currently, I am learning to identify, then take off those old clothes, the things that have been fashioned by this life … through my personal choices and experiences. Even the things I think I feel comfortable in — I deliberately put behind me. The Lord’s clothes seem to be difficult at first, as I learn to leave my old responses behind. Maybe these new clothes aren’t always smooth and silky, because in the past I carefully chose my clothes so they won’t irritate me. But choosing to follow Jesus means change and dealing with my irritation.

Anyway … here’s what the bible says to wear! Verses 12-14: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

That’s a much nicer wardrobe! But how does this happen? Do I pray a prayer and bingo bongo – suddenly I have this brand new wardrobe. Meh! Not-so-much. The transformation happens whenever I use my faith to obey and walk with Him, and listen to Him. I have to deliberately choose to change my behaviour, (my clothes) and continually remember that I will always need His help. Meanwhile, those old clothes can be like a siren calling out me to drown in my feelings!

Life happens to everyone. Someone else accidentally bumps into a pain deposit inside us and we realise we are still wearing an old coat of anger, or shame or hurt. Our new way to live means that we pray and step out of that boat of same old same old responses — and step onto the water of a new miraculous way to live. His way.

There is healing in His new clothes. We can walk out of things that seemed to be just our lot in life, and daily discover that Almighty God has a bigger plan for us. There is nothing quite like looking at a difficult situation, knowing full well that 6 months ago you would have had anger issues and now you don’t! The thing is we won’t care if someone else seems to win, or not, because as we walk with the King we start to see this life from His perspective. And that changes everything.

Living like this means we use our faith. We step out in faith, every single day. Faith feels odd when you first use it, it seems risky and scary —  like maybe people will have an advantage over me. However, using our faith brings us into a much bigger arena. Who knows what gift the Lord has put inside us to benefit others? Or what gift they may have that will bless us? Faith will now become our reset button. 🙌

“Wherever I go, Your hand will guide me; Your strength will empower me.” Psalms 139:10 TPT.