All for Him – Colossians 3 (NIV)
All for Him – Colossians (NIV)
I love the way chapter 3 starts…
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.
Those thoughts, ideas, concepts, applications – I love them. Set your minds on things above. It reminds me that we are not at home (yet). And we need to remind ourselves of what’s real: Him.
And put to death the nature of this world. At once he tells us that’s our nature – that’s "who we are" and it’s bad. But we are new in Him. And we need to be reminded to not fall back into the old ways. Our nature.
11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Wow, the hits just keep coming…
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Wow! Bear with one another, forgive one another, love one another. It’s all here!
I kinda want to just stop writing – it’s all there and pretty clear and basic. But I want to try to break it down to the points so they don’t get lost in the words…
Put on love – it binds all the good together in perfect unity. Imagine all the instruments in your soul’s orchestra (compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness) playing in perfect harmony. The key is love.
Let peace rule in your heart and be thankful. And do all things for Him giving thanks through Him.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
It’s too much! Paul was on a role and just kept going! Wives, husbands, children, slaves…
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
Our nature is not great. We need to constantly stay on top of keeping our mind on Him and similar good things. In love, we need to treat others with compassion, kindness, patience, gentleness and forgiveness. And be at peace doing it all for Him.
* Paul’s Prayer
* Kingdom of His Son
* Reconciled
* Solid, Not Deceived
* Alive with Christ
* Human Commands
* Minds on Things Above
* Forgive as Christ
* All in His Name