Every single day that we wake up is a gift from God the Father, how we live, is our gift back to Him, therefore live as people who have been made alive in Christ Jesus.
“Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Over and over in the teachings that we get from Paul as he writes these letters, we see the emphasis he puts on how as believers we ought to live our lives. It’s been repeated again and again, that we should live a worthy, holy and pleasing life before God, and this goes to show the importance of purity. To be honest, there’s really nothing hard if you set your mind into achieving it, and I believe it’s the same, even in living pure lives before God – you just have to be deliberate, consistent and passionate about it. There was a time that a friend of mine sent me an inbox on Facebook and asked me to stop posting things about God, and that I was flooding their timelines (sigh). I laughed and replied saying “the only way to stop seeing my posts, is to unfriend me, but I will not unfriend you.” I wasn’t ready to change how I did things in order to keep my friend, and you too shouldn’t compromise on what is right before God!
As we learn God’s word, it’s important to note down whenever a word is repeated, because it shows the level of importance and the need for us to follow. When you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, your old self died and a new one is found in Him as we see in verses 3-4 “for you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Do not despair, there is hope to us who have put aside all the desires of the flesh and all the glitz and glam that life has to offer, we will appear together with Christ in glory and our bodies will be transformed from mortal into immortal – my younger son thinks that we will have wings to fly, scripture doesn’t confirm this, but I will sure love me some wings so that I will fly away and be united with my Maker, my King, my Lord, my Saviour, my Father and my God.
Therefore, “put to death, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.” Why should we put these aside? “because of these, the wrath of God is coming.” The wrath of God, is God’s way of dealing with the disobedience of man! He’s being kind, loving and even sent us His only Son, but still there are people who have rejected Him outright and want nothing to do with Him, and because God doesn’t force Himself onto people, their disobedience ways will lead to death. Therefore as children of The Light, we must rid ourselves of, “anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from our lips.” We should not, “lie to each other, since we have taken off our old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Jesus had this to say about people who lie in John 8:44 “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your fathers desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of all lies.” I certainly do not want to be associated with the devil and his lying gimmicks, do you?
Once you’ve put on the new self, “there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.” There is no greater than the other, there is no more important than the other, we are all equal before the eyes of God, “therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another, if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” If we as the body of Christ were to follow all the virtues that have been outlined for us, believe me, the world would be a better place to be in, and our lives would attract even the unbelievers, because they would want to know, what makes us different from the rest!
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Peace in my native language is ‘Amani,’ the peace of God, surpasses all human understanding, it cannot be explained, therefore allow His peace to rule your hearts, and let us always have a thankful heart and a grateful attitude, not always wanting things to go our way, and not be mindful of other people. “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Don’t take some teachings and leave the others, but let us allow the message of Christ to dwell amongst us, teaching and correcting us where we go wrong. “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,” as the saying goes, give credit where its due, lets continue to give glory, honour and thanks to God The Father through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Paul finishes chapter three with instructions for christian households – something he wrote to the church in Ephesus in chapters five and six, again emphasis is given for christian households.
- Wives submit yourselves to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord.
- Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
- Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
- Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
- Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to carry their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, why? since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favouritism.” It doesn’t matter where your placed or who is seeing you, serve wholeheartedly.
Memory verse Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Blessings!!
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