Stop waiting for others January 31, 2008
Posted by reformedville in : Theology , trackback“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above … [and] set your minds on things that are above.” How are we to do this? Because, if we are children of God, then we have died with Christ, been raised with Christ, and our life is “hidden with Christ in God.”There are things within us — old patterns of thinking and acting — that we must put to death if we are to be, in daily life, what we are in Christ ( Col 3:5-11). The Lust of the Flesh: Sexual Sin ; The Lust of the Eye: Materialism ; The Pride of Life: Broken Relationships There are new patterns of thinking and acting that we must embrace if we are to be, in daily life, what we are in Christ (3:12-14). The Mind of Christ: Compassion, etc. ;The Forgiveness of Christ ; The Love of Christ
Paul shows us how to start (3:15-17). Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, with thanksgivings.; Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with thanksgiving. Let the name of Christ be the key to everything you do, with thanksgiving.
The life that Paul describes is the life we all desire at the end of the day. Even those who run wild for a while begin to long for home and wonder if they’ll ever find their way back. We all want relationships marked by compassion and kindness; we want people to be patient with us and to forgive us when we have wronged them; we want to be loved. It is time for us to stop waiting for others to treat us this way and to realize that Christ has called us to take him into the world, to love the unlovable, forgive the guilty, to live lives ruled by Christ’s peace, indwelt by Christ’s word, and lived in his name and for his sake. Thus, our lives become a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to God for the glory of his grace. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above.” If you are in Christ, then be what you are!
Comments»
no comments yet - be the first?