October 18, 2014 WHAT TO WEAR
In the last blog, we learned that we are to put off, or lay aside the things that displease the Father and we saw that we will actually incur God’s wrath if we do not lay aside the sins that we once walked in before we came to know God. Sin has consequence for the unbeliever and the believer as well. We know that those who belong to God will not lose their salvation because God is faithful. In Colossians 3:12-17 we find a good description of the normal Christian life and what we read here is not in any way complicated or difficult to understand, but rather, it is quite clear. One of the blessings of the gospel is that it is “doable” or within reach to the youngest and the oldest-the educated and the uneducated-the rich and the poor-to all who hunger for it. Just to highlight a few thoughts in these verses, we first see that we have been chosen by God and we are holy and beloved by Him! Because we are chosen and loved by God our Father, it is only natural to desire to “put on” the things that please Him. We can now, and we should, “put on” just as you would put on a coat: a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We are to bear with one another which means we don’t get irritated and we accept people as one loved by God. In verse 14 we read: “And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” We see in other scriptures that the basic or overriding commandment is to love. If we do love with the love that God has for us, we will for the most part, automatically put on the things that please Him and in turn, we will bless others like He blesses us. Love is essential if we are to have lasting unity. Verses 15-16 go on to tell us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts-what a needed word for today-the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts! Also, we are to “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” and we are to teach and admonish one another, we are to worship Him and we are to be thankful. Finally, in verse 17 we read: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Does he really mean everything we say or do? You got it! It all goes back to the basic-having our hearts transformed by His love for us. When we know the love of the Father, our life is then lived as an expression of His love and so all we say and all we do comes out of the transformed heart that is full of thankfulness. Now, even the simple things in life take on new meaning-even when we drink a cup of coffee (or fruit juice for some of you), we do so with thanksgiving knowing we are greatly blessed by our Father. No longer is life to be mundane-but all things take on new meaning when we are walking with the Father. When we walk with our Father, He points many things along the way and it is never monotonous. The idea, the fact that we can walk in fellowship with the God that created the universe and we can actually enjoy Him is almost beyond belief. Even more astounding is the fact that we can be becoming more and more like Him. Indeed, we are called, we are invited to live a super-natural life here on planet earth even in the midst of an imperfect world-imperfect now, but destined to be filled with His kingdom. You and I have every reason to rejoice and celebrate life no matter what is going on around us at the present.
Romans 15:13: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Blessings,
Buddy
In the last blog, we learned that we are to put off, or lay aside the things that displease the Father and we saw that we will actually incur God’s wrath if we do not lay aside the sins that we once walked in before we came to know God. Sin has consequence for the unbeliever and the believer as well. We know that those who belong to God will not lose their salvation because God is faithful. In Colossians 3:12-17 we find a good description of the normal Christian life and what we read here is not in any way complicated or difficult to understand, but rather, it is quite clear. One of the blessings of the gospel is that it is “doable” or within reach to the youngest and the oldest-the educated and the uneducated-the rich and the poor-to all who hunger for it. Just to highlight a few thoughts in these verses, we first see that we have been chosen by God and we are holy and beloved by Him! Because we are chosen and loved by God our Father, it is only natural to desire to “put on” the things that please Him. We can now, and we should, “put on” just as you would put on a coat: a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We are to bear with one another which means we don’t get irritated and we accept people as one loved by God. In verse 14 we read: “And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.” We see in other scriptures that the basic or overriding commandment is to love. If we do love with the love that God has for us, we will for the most part, automatically put on the things that please Him and in turn, we will bless others like He blesses us. Love is essential if we are to have lasting unity. Verses 15-16 go on to tell us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts-what a needed word for today-the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts! Also, we are to “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” and we are to teach and admonish one another, we are to worship Him and we are to be thankful. Finally, in verse 17 we read: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Does he really mean everything we say or do? You got it! It all goes back to the basic-having our hearts transformed by His love for us. When we know the love of the Father, our life is then lived as an expression of His love and so all we say and all we do comes out of the transformed heart that is full of thankfulness. Now, even the simple things in life take on new meaning-even when we drink a cup of coffee (or fruit juice for some of you), we do so with thanksgiving knowing we are greatly blessed by our Father. No longer is life to be mundane-but all things take on new meaning when we are walking with the Father. When we walk with our Father, He points many things along the way and it is never monotonous. The idea, the fact that we can walk in fellowship with the God that created the universe and we can actually enjoy Him is almost beyond belief. Even more astounding is the fact that we can be becoming more and more like Him. Indeed, we are called, we are invited to live a super-natural life here on planet earth even in the midst of an imperfect world-imperfect now, but destined to be filled with His kingdom. You and I have every reason to rejoice and celebrate life no matter what is going on around us at the present.
Romans 15:13: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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