The Holy Spirit tells us to “put off” the old man and “put on the new.” He said we are to “put on” tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering (Colossians 3:12). It is a directive and we are responsible to action.
The fact that it is a choice indicates it does not come to us naturally. We will not be able to do it by will power alone. It is when we soak in God’s presence, continually live there, that we are able to put on tender mercy, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering.
The adhesive to these attitudes is love. Colossians calls it the “bond of perfection.” It is what causes us to show humility and treat others as Christ has treated us. God is the only true source for this spiritual glue. All other sources are tainted with self preservation and will not stand up under extreme stress.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Forgiven
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercy, kindness, humility, meekness and longsuffering 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 (Colossians 3:12-13).
We particularly enjoy people who think and behave like we do. Because none of us are completely alike, even our closest friends will sometimes irritate us. When this happens, we naturally want to complain about the other person and to draw back from the relationship. We easily excuse our anger and allow resentment to fester in our spirits.
When we do this, we are creating a sore that will become infested with unforgiveness until we wake up one morning with a hardened heart (Hebrews 3:12). It is good for us to remember that God loved us while we were dead set against him. He offered his forgiveness while we were still ridiculing his existance. Even now that we belong to him, he is calling us back to communion with him while we are demeaning one of his kids.
What we owe God is far more than what anyone owes us. Let's remember that and offer that person forgiveness.
We particularly enjoy people who think and behave like we do. Because none of us are completely alike, even our closest friends will sometimes irritate us. When this happens, we naturally want to complain about the other person and to draw back from the relationship. We easily excuse our anger and allow resentment to fester in our spirits.
When we do this, we are creating a sore that will become infested with unforgiveness until we wake up one morning with a hardened heart (Hebrews 3:12). It is good for us to remember that God loved us while we were dead set against him. He offered his forgiveness while we were still ridiculing his existance. Even now that we belong to him, he is calling us back to communion with him while we are demeaning one of his kids.
What we owe God is far more than what anyone owes us. Let's remember that and offer that person forgiveness.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Neither Slave nor Free
Colossian 3:8-11 “But now you yourselves are to put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Sythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all in and in all.”
The Holy Spirit connects lying with being arrogant. Greeks looked down on the Jews. Jews looked down on the Greeks. People judged one another based on religious practices such as circumcision. Slaves envied and did not trust the free and free men looked down on slaves. Evidently they believed they did not owe the truth to those beneath them because “it was none of their business”.
That is why the Holy Spirit connects prejudice and lying. Our untruths are symptomatic of our belief that we are stronger than others and therefore can tolerate the truth that others cannot tolerate. We are convinced that we know what is best for someone else and thus excuse our exaggerations, partial truths or out right fabrications.
Our lies reveal more about our pride than the weakness of those we choose to “protect.”
The Holy Spirit connects lying with being arrogant. Greeks looked down on the Jews. Jews looked down on the Greeks. People judged one another based on religious practices such as circumcision. Slaves envied and did not trust the free and free men looked down on slaves. Evidently they believed they did not owe the truth to those beneath them because “it was none of their business”.
That is why the Holy Spirit connects prejudice and lying. Our untruths are symptomatic of our belief that we are stronger than others and therefore can tolerate the truth that others cannot tolerate. We are convinced that we know what is best for someone else and thus excuse our exaggerations, partial truths or out right fabrications.
Our lies reveal more about our pride than the weakness of those we choose to “protect.”
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Anemic
We know that God knows all things. He knows the beginning and the end. He has always existed and always will exist. He made all things and by him all things continue to exist.
Scripture says that we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2). Paul said God is forming us into the image of his Son (Romans 8:29). Keeping these truths is mind, let’s read Colossians 3:9-10. “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…”
“The new man is renewed in knowledge, according to the image of Him who created him.” It is the continual renewing of our knowledge of him that sustains our spiritual health. Our continual seeking of his face is the blood of our spiritual beings. To cease from seeking knowledge of him is to become anemic and sickly. If things do not change, we will eventually die.
Scripture says that we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2). Paul said God is forming us into the image of his Son (Romans 8:29). Keeping these truths is mind, let’s read Colossians 3:9-10. “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him…”
“The new man is renewed in knowledge, according to the image of Him who created him.” It is the continual renewing of our knowledge of him that sustains our spiritual health. Our continual seeking of his face is the blood of our spiritual beings. To cease from seeking knowledge of him is to become anemic and sickly. If things do not change, we will eventually die.
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