Day 286.
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1 ESV)
Paul invites you to see that a Christian has something new to seek, something that is beyond attainment to those apart from God. The heavens have been opened wide and the Christian is invited and even encouraged to pursue the riches to be found. To do that, however, requires you to give it your full attention. You can’t enjoy the wonders of God while you treasure the things of this age, for they lead to strife and destruction.
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another… (Colossians 3:5-9 ESV)
For the one who does not know Christ, this is all there is. Pleasure, money, popularity, etc become things that people will make into their god, desperately looking for something to give their life meaning and fulfillment. But the Christian is called to God himself, the only one who can satisfy the longing that he has. But to embrace God, you must forsake your old substitutes for God. Only the Christian can do this because only the Christian is clothed in Christ. What does it look like to put to death these earthly things?
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:12-15 ESV)
What “earthly” things do you pursue? Why should you put on these new things?
Thank God for Christ and the ability to seek things of heaven!
McCheyne’s Bible Reading Plan: 1 Kings 16, Co 3, Ez 46, Ps 37
My friend has this really cool doll thingy and one time I wanted to steal it but I didn’t. And my friend saw me stealing it and said, “hey, don’t steal that.” And I said I’m sorry. I should put on the new things to be nice and kind. The new things will make a good community.
I hold onto anger when someone hurts my feelings. The new things are better. They are what God did to us.