His Job Is Not Our Job

"12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy, and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection." ~ Colossians 3:12-14


Remember, Paul is speaking to God's Children directly; this is not a message for the masses (though they could benefit from it) but for those whom have submitted their selves, hearts and lives, to Christ Jesus. This command comes on the heels of Paul explaining that there are no national, physical, social, and economic distinctions between us but everyone falls under the authority of Christ. Therefore we, as followers of Christ and children of God, are to treat people differently than the world does and to see people differently than the world does. We have "put off the old man" (Ch3, v9) and have put on the new. This "new man" is not a jacket that we put on for Sundays, Wednesdays, Easters and Christmas', but the eternity-altering mindset of Christ Jesus Himself! There is not a situation in which we are allowed to "take off" the new man. If we are indeed in Christ Jesus, then we are transformed, not merely disguised by a "good person" jacket.

So, Paul's list of the outcome- the evidence if you will, of what someone who has died to self and been raised in Christ should look and act like. Our words and actions should be characterized by these things; to fellow believers and non-believers alike. And yes, we (and I loudly include myself in that "we") do fall short of consistently following this command because we are not yet perfected, but are continuously in the process of becoming more and more Christ-like. This is why Paul reminds us to put on tender mercies, humility, etc..

Paul gives special attention to forgiveness here. In my opinion, in general, we find it easier to be kind, patient and humble than to be forgiving. Forgiveness is predicated on pain and hurt, and when pain in involved it is our natural human tendency to lash out, fight back or run. We have little trouble being kind to someone who is kind to us, but the very second someone is mean, hurtful, or crosses us, the effort it takes to be Christ-like seems almost impossible to muster. And so Paul gives us something to focus on, reminding us it is possible to forgive because our example, Jesus Christ, found it possible to forgive us. Christ did not merely forgive us with His words, but by His royal blood; even His very life, and He is faithful to give us the strength to forgive others whom have trespassed against us.

Saving the most important point for last, Paul encourages us to put on love. Christ-like love is the attribute under which all others fall. Love encompasses all of Jesus' characteristics; it encompasses all of God's character as well, for it is written, "God is love" (1 John 4:8 & 16)

I want to be very careful with what I am about to say, and it is my opinion but believe it's drawn from what I have read throughout Scripture; the World, and those who do not know Christ do not, by nature, hold themselves to these same standards. We, as the church, need to be aware of this and be careful of trying to do the Holy Spirit's work. By this I mean, we cannot hold people of the world to the same standards Jesus Christ hold us, because they themselves do not use Christ as their standard. So then why would we expect them to act like we do?  We are to be the ones who are different from this world. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, His representatives, in this Enemy occupied territory- to borrow C.S. Lewis' words. So, as we engage with people around us, whether that be at work, school or the coffee shop, remember we represent Christ. Regardless of how people around us act and react, when we meet Jesus Christ face to face, we will be responsible for our own thoughts, words, and actions. In every situation remember God is the Judge, and the One who will change peoples standard.

"Let all that you do be done with love." - 1 Corinthians 16:14

Father, author and perfecter of my faith, thank You for being the example in all situations. I ask for the strength to love those who do not show me kindness, to be Your example in all things. Keep me close to Your side, so that I may not stray. I love You and trust in You and Your promises. In Jesus' Name; Amen.

What Are You Wearing Today?

5 "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication,uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in the knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is nether Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all." - Colossians 3: 5-11

This is Paul calling the Colossians (and by extension of God's providence; us) to action.We are not mindless, empty puppets, but people who have choice. By the very presence of original sin, we are bent away from God, but solely by His power and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are given the ability to turn back to God. And this is exactly what Paul is calling us to. For each of us, to "put to death" is a daily necessity. It is a deliberate act to choose the things above (Ch3, v1) and to choose to turn away from what our sinful hearts want. If, in order to make that choice, you require another reason other than that you will become more Christ-like, Paul reminds us of the coming consequence for those that continue to chose to follow their earthly desires.

And before we become too smug with how well we are doing in the act of daily choosing God, Paul reminds us, that each and everyone of us, once lived as "sons of disobedience". This is not a slap down, or a statement to put us in our proper place, but a gentle reminder that we once were separated from God. Yet by His sovereign grace, He chooses to call us His children, and in so doing so, gives us absolutely nothing to boast in, save Him and the Cross. As His children, who have died to self and been raised to life in Christ (Rms 6:4-6), we are now to leave behind and not continue to put on the disobediences we did before Christ. We are now to put on Jesus; and be renewed and recreated in the likeness of Him.

Once we have been raised in Christ, we no longer should segregate ourselves, or identify ourselves by anything other than Christ. We are now His children-heirs to the Kingdom- having been adopted under the Blood of Jesus Christ. The national, physical, social, and economic categories that the world says separate us are no longer to corral us, but we are held together, set apart and sustained by Christ.

Father God, what I see in Your Word is not what I see in this world. Help us to read, and understand Your Word. Let it not stop with the understanding, but let that understanding become practice; help us live by Your Word and not the suggestion of the world. We are lacking Father and we in the church desperately need You. Raise up leaders and examples; teachers who will call us back to You; for there is no other way I'd rather live.  Thank You, my King, for the second chances You give us. May we not squander them. In Your Son's Holy Name; Amen.

Set Your Mind

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ~ Colossians 3:1-3

For some of us, putting this verse into practice comes a little easier than for others. But, there are some of us that are in constant battle to bring our thoughts, actions, and lives under control so we may turn them toward Christ.  This verse reminds me of 2 Corinthians 10: 4 & 5; "4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...." So first we must take captive every thought so that we may then turn them towards Christ and the obedience of Him.

One thing must be noted; the ability to take captive everything thought and turn them toward Christ and the things above, does not naturally occur in our hearts and minds, but is possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit. I find myself, most days consistently asking God for provision enough to make it through the next couple hours or the rest of the day, etc. It's not that I live a physically demanding or dangerous life, but I have to fight to stay on task at work, fight to keep thoughts pure, fight to be kind, gracious, etc.; I must fight myself if I am to follow Christ daily. (Matthew 16:24- Deny yourself and pick up your cross, paraphrase)

I've been reading this book titled, Practicing the Presence of God, that is based on a 17th century monk named Brother Lawrence, who, through his inability to stay focused during the mandated daily 3 hour meditation/prayer time, came to the conclusion that if God is ever present, then what is stopping him from staying connected to God in prayer throughout his entire day? So Brother Lawrence began to talk with God as he went about his daily tasks in the kitchen, thanking and praising God for every little thing; nothing was too small to bring to the feet of God. 

To me, one of the most powerful insights Brother Lawrence realized through this process of practicing the presence of God throughout his day, was he found himself becoming less and less distracted by the world and the pulls of his sinful heart, because he was constantly setting his mind on God. He became the embodiment of Colossians  3:1-3, and like Adam in the garden, was consistently walking with God (not physically but spiritually).

Thankfully, Paul does not tell us to set our minds on the things above and hope it turns out alright, but rather reassures us that we will be able to win the battle of our mind because, our "life is hidden with Christ in God." This is a call back to Colossians 1:27, "...which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." We are in Christ and Christ is in God, and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, so we are surrounded on all sides, both inside and outside, with the One that makes victory possible.  The best visual explanation of this I've found is in the link below; This is David Platt's full sermon so jump to Minute 38 for the illustration I'm talking about.

Illustration of Christ in You

God, my King, thank You for the promise of your glory and the founded knowledge that you never leave us nor forsake us, but are constantly by our side.  Teach me to turn to You in all things, praising You and thanking You all the day long. In your Son's precious Name; Amen