Colossians 3:1-11
Before we start just a few words, 1st check out the new pages. Books, FAQ, and sermons with more to come. Also we will start Proverbs in 5 days, so start reading I am looking forward to talking about them.
Colossians 3:1-11
New King James Version (NKJV)
Living as Those Made Alive in Christ
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. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
My Thoughts:
- So let’s start with (v. 5) we read “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
- How should Christians live? Paul is saying that there is a standard that as Christians we must follow.
- We see two list of vices or sins that we as Christians need to turn away from. I like the comment about these things being “idolatry” to me anything that replaces God as the focus of your life is idolatry. We all need to put Christ first.
- In (v. 8 we read “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”
- I see the 2nd set of sins or vices being in contrast to the former ones, we also need to put off or lay aside these things. It reads to me as if Paul is telling them that being a Christian is a growing process.
- Let’s finish with (v.11) “Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all”
- Once we are born of Christ there is no divisions, not in class, cultural or religious. One people circumcised through Christ (Eph. 2:14-18, 3:1-13).
Thought of the Day
WHILE taking the back roads to a neighboring town recently, I drove around a bend and suddenly came upon a very narrow railroad underpass. The sharp turn, combined with the confining walls of this mini-tunnel, made the roadway seem unsafe for two-way traffic.
“Somebody is sure to have an accident here,” I thought. “I wonder why they don’t widen this thing so it’s not so hard to drive through.” But on my return trip, I noticed that all the cars were negotiating the underpass quite well. All they needed was extra caution, slower speed, and a few additional seconds. If someone were to have an accident at that spot, it would be the fault of the driver not the tunnel. A careful driver could make it through with no problem.
The road through that underpass is similar to our journey through life. When we disobey God and get into trouble, we tend to blame God for making His way too narrow. But that would be like faulting the tunnel for our own careless driving.
God’s standards may seem restrictive, but they’re there for our protection. With the help of the Holy Spirit we can learn to navigate the narrow way, which is always the safe way.
Personal Reflection and Discussion
- compare (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 425-5:5)
- What do you think Paul meant in (v. 6)?
- What other things do you see in the text?
Prayer Activities
- Call your Partner and discuss this devotional.
- Continue to have a prayer list and continue to praying for them.
- Pray with them and ask for the following;
- For God to help you take a good look at how spend your Sabbath.
- For God to strengthen stop looking at man-made religion and focus on Him.
- For the individuals on your pray list.
- Let’s use (Isa. 25:1-2) for today’s prayer verse.
About bobh6
40 Days of study 
The three verses you asked us to read talk about what to put away to walk in the light. There are things which seems so huge and we think “I wouldn’t do those anyway” but even thinking about them is first step to doing them. Others are seemingly small and insignificant that we think they are not that bad. Any sin, even the tiniest little thought that is not repented of can keep us from our Father. This leads in to verse 6. There is a glorious day coming. A day when Jesus comes to take us home, but for those who chose the things of this earth it will seem to be the wrath of God. They will not see the heart break in Jesus’ face as they run and scream for the mountains to cover them from our Lord. He must do away with sin and what it causes for us to live in eternity with Him. We can not do away with these sins on our own. We must ask Jesus to take over our lives and trust in His mercy and grace.
We need to remember that even a small sin is still and sin and the wages for sin is death. So without His grace and mercy we cannot live, His blood covers us and insures our salvation.
Since we have been raised with Christ, we need to set our hearts on things above. Jesus liberates us so that are hearts are lifted up to heavenly places. We’re focused on our goal and could trod on in this muddy world with Joy in our hearts. God knows this world could cloud out the Son at times, so he gives examples and warnings of how we are when we’re not focus on heaven and God.
I have a lot of friends that are spiritualist and they are always looking inward for answers, when all they need is to look up and Christ will show then the way.
I like that. I never knew how to put my finger on the dfferences. They supposely believe on a higher power, but they tend to look inward alot for revelation.