Good morning,
God’s word challenges our thinking.
When the Bible says God rules over everything, that we should “fear not”, the blessings God shows to Israel, the church, and to the United States, then we must ask ourselves, how does this impact me? What should be my response to God’s goodness?
This week we look at what our spiritual attitude should be. We have responsibilities to act in accordance with Scriptural principles. What are they?
5) SPIRITUAL CONDUCT (COLOSSIANS 3:1-3, 5, 8-11, 9-14, 17)
Seek those things above V1
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affections on things above V2
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Mortify your members which are upon this earth V5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Put off:
Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication lie not one with another V8-9
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Put on:
The new man, which is renewed in knowledge, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, forgiving one another, charity V 10-14
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Peace of God V15
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
How do we conduct ourselves as believers in Christ?
Colossians 3 gives us three things to do. Seek those things which are above, set your affections on things above, and mortify (kill) your members which are on the earth.
Then we are instructed to put off a list of wicked, sinful, character qualities, and put on a list of Godly, spiritual, Biblical, character qualities.
Our testimony for Christ is directly related to the character qualities we present to others. If we fail to exhibit characteristics of love, patience, mercy, humbleness, meekness, forgiveness, we will not be a good witness for Jesus Christ.
God desires us to walk close to Him, proclaim the good news of the gospel message, and pray for the lost to come to Christ.
Each of us has a part to play. Will we be obedient to God’s call?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
Leave a Reply