As Sent Ones, disciples intentionally
immerse themselves in a relationship with
God through prayer… to seek direction
Your Biblical Identity in Christ
Colossians 3:1-17
Living as Those Made Alive in Christ
As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, 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.
~ Apostle Paul, Colossians 3:12-14
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 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. 17 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.
Pondering Point
Read Colossians 3:1-17. Is it time to change your wardrobe or maybe launder some dirty clothes? The underlined words above (compassion, kindness, etc.) represent character traits known as “godly clothing.”
What ungodly attitudes or “dirty laundry” might you need to put off and replace with godly virtues listed in Colossians 3?
It is good to recognize how choices or attitudes that we wear can negatively impact the life God desires for us – and others. As we seek direction and guidance from God this week, knowing what changes to make is very helpful – especially when those changes are needed in ourselves.
• In Christ, I am holy and dearly loved. As such, I will forgive as the Lord has forgiven me.
Prayer
Lord God, thanks for washing me whiter than snow in Jesus’ name. Help me remove all ungodly characteristics from my wardrobe. Amen.
1 Peter 2:9
The
Great Sending
Word of the Day
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.