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
Paul loved churches. He wrote letters to them. He expressed his love for them and his hopes for them. Paul saw the Spirit of God at work in the coming together of communities of faith. They were, and are, God’s instrument for the nurturing and growth of the life of Jesus in the world. When we participate in the church we are reminded that we live with one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom to come! In today’s verses Paul appeals to the gatherings of the faithful to be clothed not in the competitions and greed of the past, not in anger and abusive language toward one another, but to be clothed in the Spirit of Christ and love. We live with an eye toward the new kingdom revealed in Christ. In that new life, Paul proclaims, we do not live by outdoing one another or by demeaning the other, but we live seeing Christ in each other.
Prayer
God of love, guide and inspire communities of faith everywhere. Uphold us in the values and gifts of your new kingdom. Renew us as a people of faith as we journey together. Amen.
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