Colossians 3:1-11 (NRSV)
Read Colossians 3:1-11 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 3So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Verse 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, Verse 3for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Verse 4When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
Verse 5Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). Verse 6On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. Verse 7These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life.
Verse 8But now you must get rid of all such things-anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Verse 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices Verse 10and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. Verse 11In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
Devotion
We are living in an in between time. We have been made new by Jesus Christ. And, through Christ’s death and resurrection, God removed the barrier of sin that separates us from God. We don’t have to prove ourselves to earn God’s love; we simply need to receive the gifts of God’s unbounded love. Yet, we still live with the effects of sin on our lives and struggle with the force of sin that disrupts our desire for God and God’s way.
The Apostle Paul offers some advice on negotiating this in between time when we are already made new but plagued by our old ways. He writes, “… seek the things that are above, where Christ is.” See things from Christ’s perspective, see through eyes of merciful love, and rather than clinging to the old ways, let God shape your life.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, inspire us, breathe into us your mercy and grace. Fill us with the desire for you above all else and guide us as we seek your ways. Amen.