Colossians 3: 1 - 4
We are halfway through this little letter. While the first two chapters were full of theological arguments and explanations, these last two will be packed with practical applications - the "so whats" of theology! To set the stage for his applications, Paul established certain truths in the first 4 verses. Read them several times.
I find it so easy to get completely caught up in the things and the business of this world. Paul encourages us to think on the things that are above this world - above the madness in which we live. Someone has said that Christians can be so "heavenly minded that they are no earthly good". I don't believe that is what Paul is advocating. He is about to launch into quite a discourse on how we should live in this world - not sequestered from it.
In verse 1 he tells us to set our hearts on things above. Our hearts are the seat of our emotions, our affections, our love. Can we center our hearts on our Lord more than on our earthly circumstances? In verse 2 he tells us to set our minds on things above. Our minds are the command centers of our lives - where our intellect, our decision-making, our thought processes come from. Can we center our minds on the Lord more than the business of our lives, the business (and lack of!) in our country, our world?
Barclay says, "Paul is certainly not pleading for an other-worldliness in which the Christian has withdrawn himself from all the work and all the activities of this world, and in which he does nothing but, as it were, contemplate eternity ... But there will be this difference - from now on the Christian will see everything in the light and against the background of eternity. He will no longer live as if this world was all that mattered; he will see this world against the background of the larger world of eternity. This will obviously give him a new set of values, a new way of judging things, a new sense of proportion." (Daily Study Bible, Colossians)
How can that be accomplished? Aahhh ... glad you asked! Paul tells us how it can happen and why it will happen in verse 3. You see, you died. I want to quote William Barclay again: "In baptism the Christian dies and rises again. As the waters close over him, it is as if he was buried in death; as he emerges from the waters, it is like being resurrected into a new life." This new life is now Christ's life in us - through the presence and person of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. A mystery indeed ... but the mystery of God revealed to those who believe.
I, and you, can set our hearts on things above because Christ is there. And His Spirit is alive in us. I, and you, can set our minds on things above because we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) through His Spirit indwelling in us. Again as Paul says in Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. the life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me."
How do I apply this truth? Be "deader" today than I was yesterday! My continual prayer is for less of self and more of Christ. Don't get discouraged. It is going to take a lifetime. But we can continually practice ... we can continually pray ... and we can grow in Christ focused living.
One of my teachers some years ago said to remember that when you become a Christian, you are given ALL of the Spirit. That God Spirit is available for each of us ... we just have to die to self! So much easier said (and typed) than done ... but never forget the promise of Philippians 1:6 - "Be confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Praise God!!
Beautiful picture, Gail!
ReplyDeleteDie to self = surrender to being inhabited by Christ.
As I read your words, I couldn't help comparing/contrasting this picture with what we refer to as our "conscience." Conscience is that subtle, often-ignorable tap on the elbow that says "you really shouldn't be doing that, you know." But this is Jesus saying "you really should be letting Me do that for you, instead of trying to do it yourself." Does no good for ALL the Spirit to be sitting in the driver's seat if we won't give Him the keys!