Today, Thursday June 10
Living For the Eternal
Colossians 3:1-4
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Here in chapter three of Colossians, the Apostle Paul gives us four areas of our lives that we, in a very practical way, should give Christ the preeminence. We should first practice the preeminence of Christ in our personal purity (3:1-11). Secondly, Christ should be preeminent in our Christian fellowship (3:12-17). Next, Christ needs to be preeminent in our relationships in the home (3:18-21). And lastly, Christ must be preeminent in our daily work relationships (3:22-4:16).
Since we are risen with Christ, we first must set our minds, our affections on the things that are above. In other words, our earthly practice should be worthy of our heavenly position. Before our salvation, we were dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1-3), but now we are dead to sin. This should be happening every waking moment of the day!
Remember in chapter one we learned that we have Christ in us, the hope of glory (1:27), and someday soon that glory will be revealed (v. 4). Paul starts this chapter by saying, “Live up to what Christ has done for you!” This simple principle of Christian living is more powerful than all the rules and regulations men can devise. “You are made full in Him” (2:10); now live out that fullness in daily life.
Most religions say little or nothing about personal holiness in daily life. The man made religions of the world allow a person to bring sacrifices, say prayers and then go away from the altar to commit terrible sins, and no one will think they are inconsistent. Not so with Christianity!
The new life within demands a new life without! May the Lord help us to apply this today!
God bless!
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