Text: Colossians 3:1-17
3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is,seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness,humility, meekness, and patience, 13 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.14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,giving thanks to God the Father through him.
What are you still seeking that is of this world and not from above? How can you move towards putting these earthly desires to death?
Which of Christ’s traits are you striving to make a part of your own divine character?
Who do you need to forgive to truly have the peace of God in your heart? He has forgiven us freely–who can you extend that gift to in your life today?
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24 thoughts on "living anew in Christ"
Thank you all for blessing me with your transparent responses.
I need to let go of pride. It hinders me from totally forgiving. I don’t think I want to forgive, it’s like I want to stay mad at this person because she really hurt me. And forgiving would be letting go of it, and not being mad anymore. Wow, I’m being honest here. And I thought I’d forgiven her. Forgiveness is soul work, and I thought I was a forgiving person. But I feel like I want to hold the grudge, and that wouldn’t be complete forgiveness then would it?
Please pray for me…….
You are the one who will suffer the most if you don't forgive. It doesn't mean that you forget what that person did, but the hurt of the memory of what happened that will cause bitterness in your life will slowly fade. Check out The grief recovery method. I've been helped through that. A LOT. I never understood forgiveness even though I've been a Christian my whole life but it was an AHA-moment when I came to the part about apologizing and forgiveness! Now I've let go of so many hurts and I have forgiven many people. This has also deepened my relationship with God so much. The art of forgiving is truly powerful when you understand what it is all about! Perhaps you need to write down what she did and how hurt you are, and then read the letter to someone you trust. And in the letter say that your forgive what she did (according to The grief recovery method)?
God bless and I will pray for you! Hope you find a way.
Just one more thought on forgiveness. Forgiveness doesn't necessarily hurt the other person, but it surely does hurt us!
I noticed that the subject of forgiveness came up several times in people's posts today. That aspect of verse 13 spoke to me today as well; so, in the middle of the study, I took time to forgive someone that I have been harboring resentment towards now for quite some time. I hadn't recognised it for what it was until today. And, then I asked the Lord to forgive me.
Forgiveness is really just an act of the will. We may not "feel" differently right away; we need time to let our emotions catch up to our decision. If the person we need to forgive still rankles our spirit when the person's name is mentioned or when we think of him/her, then forgive again, as many times as needed and ask God to forgive us for our withholding forgiveness. Forgiveness is like a two-sided coin; on the one side is our need to forgive (and so have peace) and on the other side is our need to be forgiven! When we obey the Lord and forgive as often as is necessary, the peace WILL come.
I'm thankful for today's reading as it led me to do what needed to be done. Of course, I've read these verses before, but for some reason that particular verse struck home today!
And one more thing….in regard to love…I often check myself in this area by reading the definition of love in 1 Cor. 13:4–7. Love is not always an emotion either, but an act of our will..a decision.
Has anyone out there ever read "The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life " by Hannah Whitall Smith? I bought it many years ago as a new believer and it has helped me many a time.
In His Grip~~
Lately, I've been incredibly anxious and annoyed at applying for colleges. I realize that this is because I'm not giving it to God, and I've been clutching too tightly; Lord, help me to give it up to you. Guide me. Help me.
Verse 8 convicted me a lot: "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth." I've been so full of anger, wrath, and obscene talk lately! Lord, forgive me. Help me to rest in you. Help me to throw off my frustration and cussing; they aren't things that give you glory.
I need to forgive myself and the pressures I've placed on myself to succeed. They all mean nothing, Father; you are God. I need you.
11 "Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all." Lord, help us to be unified in you and in Your Perfect will this morning.
As for college and life in general,
17 "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,giving thanks to God the Father through him."
^^ *spent (typo!)
This set of verses pack so much in it and today I spend some time reading them over in my study bible. The main thing that stuck out to me was anger and forgiveness. I am so bitter towards some people in my church that have not acted Christ-like to me and have judged me, and I know that this bitterness is wrong>> I should be forgiving these people. :)
I was so upset at my regular driver that brings me home from work Friday night. the company that provides our disability transportation uses a cab company that they contract out to. usually, if they do our trips, they don't take cash rides. Our driver decided to take a cash ride to get some extra moneyy because he thought he could get back and get us in time. didn't work that way. I kept asking, why god. It took me a while, but the driver is the one I need to forgive and I am asking God to help me. i love this passage of scripture and it always serves as a good reminder for me.
Forgiveness is hard, isn't it? Forgiveness feels like you lost the battle. I've learned that the only battle I lose through forgiving others is my own Pride. I want to lose pride! I want to live freely in the truth. I want to forgive the way the God forgives.
I posted a reply to kristi1521 earlier on what I've learnt about forgiveness. I only write this because I recognize your struggle and I just want to share what helped me to learn how to forgive. I never understood what forgiveness was all about even though I grew up in church! Read the reply if you want to, I want to help if I can. God bless.
I am learning that when I want to be more patient, kind, compassionate _________ (fill in the blank) – God gives me an opportunity to practice cultivating this thing. I do not believe that He just plops the trait in my lap. He desires that my actions come from a pure heart.
Clothing myself with these good attributes is tough heart work because it often means going against my selfish nature. But God is in the habit of renewing and transforming my mind and creating a clean heart within me – when I seek Him. And showing me through these things that I NEED Him if I want to be more patient, kind, compassionate, Christ-like.
(Oie, this is rambling post, but I wanted to share some bits of what I'm learning lately…)
What jumped out at me was this tiny sentence: And be thankful.
So easy to take God’s blessings for granted. So easy to live in our materialistic world and want more stuff. What about all we have? Thinking about the small amount many of us give to sponsor kids and how it transforms their lives…we have so much even if we have modest means.
Being thankful takes faith and humility. We don’t deserve anything but God’s anger. And we receive love and grace and so much more.
I need to remember to be thankful for what I have andouille daydreaming about material things I want – clothes, house, money, etc.
I think I need to practice more patience. There are things I want so badly in my life but I know it's God's will and timing.
I have more difficult forgiving myself than anyone else.
I need to work of many of these things. Mainly, forgiving. I get stuck with forgiveness. How do you forgive someone when you know that they honestly have done nothing to you. You have anger for them, and you do not know where exactly it comes from. Or maybe you do and you don't want to admit it? How do you truly forgive someone and release that anger, and not just say you are going to forgive them.
I want to let go of anger, and be kind.
I want to let go of obscene talk, gossip.
I want to live more in love and be more patient.
. Luke 6:27-28 (ESV) "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." also 1 Peter 3:9-10, Prov. 25:21-22, Rom. 12:17-21.
It's a tough thing to do. I have found in my own life that prayer is the only way. If I start praying for that person…or persons…God starts changing my life. And with that comes forgiveness. I have had some very extreme "judgments" against me that we're so devastating I didn't know how I was going to go on….really! The only way through it was to give it to the Lord and forgive….hard? Yes!! Impossible? No!! God gave me grace and through prayer I was able to forgive these people. I can tell you that I can be in the same room with them, talk with them and know that I have truly forgiven them! Now, are they my best friends…or even friends? No…but that's ok….they are forgiven and I don't have that hurt, anger, bitterness eating me up on the inside.
The other thing that will help is get into the Word and memorize…that will help with your language…gossip…etc. it will help in every aspect of your life!
Be encouraged….With God all things are possible!!
Hope this is of help to you…have a blessed Sunday!
Thanks so much! Everything I learn, and every piece of guidance I receive does help me. I'm not new to the Lord, but I know that I had lost my way, and I'm slowly on my way back. I strive to be the best person that I can be everyday. I'm starting to read the Word, and I look at every word or sentence for guidance. I appreciate anyone taking the time out to give me a new verse to read, and think about. I am really working hard. Thanks so much!
You know, I was struggling for many years with the riddle that, for me, was forgiveness. I heard it in church but I never understood what it meant. How do I forgive? Is that the same thing as forgetting? I never understood that forgiveness had to do with my heart. No one ever told me. Then I got in contact with The grief recovery method (outside church). There I was taught the difference between apologizing and forgiving. To apologize is to take responsibility for your own actions (like when you confess sin), and you can apologize to another person. But forgive is something you do in your heart, and is nothing you should say to the other person, since that person probably doesn't know or understand that you have been hurt. It's how YOU feel that is important. And to avoid holding a grudge or becoming bitter you can say this to God: "I confirm that what this person did or said hurt me, but I am not going to allow the memory of his/her actions/words to hurt me any more, so I give up the hope of a better or different yesterday and forgive him/her so that I can be free". I take me feelings seriously, I was really hurt. To forgive doesn't mean saying "it's ok, don't worry about it", it's to forgive an action or words. But we need to accept that we have been hurt.
This grief recovery method involves writing a letter to the person that has hurt you, and read to a witness (not the person you are writing to) and say good bye to the communication you've had. This part is crucial in order to become emotionally whole (according to this method, and I agree).
After many years being a Christian I finally understood what forgiveness is all about. And it made me understand more about God's forgiveness and how much LOVE he is, considering how we constantly sin but still can be forgiven. It doesn't mean that God says "Oh, don't worry about, it wasn't so bad". God doesn't like when we sin, he hates sin, but he loves us and that is why he forgives us, and because is he is the big L. But we also has to confess sin… God bless!
Thank you so much! That makes a lot of sense. I struggled with forgiveness for a long time, and I often thought about how Great God was to forgive all of our sins, no matter what they were. I thought about how tough a time I was having forgiving people that probably didn't know that they had hurt me. I need to forgive the action or words. They says a lot to me. Thank you.
^obedience
1) Mans approval of me
2) Pray for obidience not to care what man thinks of me.
3) If I loved more like Christ, I would have a deeper burden for the not-yet saved.
4) I’m not suren about who I need to forgive. The first thing that came to mind was myself, but I quickly dismissed that, so I need to think on this today.
Thank you for sharing your heart!
Oh yeah forgot to mention that man's approval of me that's a big one for me.
You bring up some things we all need to think about.
I truly love this scripture!! It is one of my favorites!
A year and a half ago, my Hubby and I renewed our vows after our marriage had been nearly ripped apart by sin. Verses 12-17 were our scripture. I hung on each and every word as a promise for a new and better tomorrow… And God never disappoints!!
Verse 8 is the clincher for me. The CEV translation says: "but now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry and hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others." Putting it in those words is very convicting… Forgive me, Lord, for my failings!! Give me the strength and wisdom to do better!!
Don't forget tomorrow is Monday Praises!! Hope to see you there! http://www.walkhumblywithgod.wordpress.com