He careth for YOU.
The Message
Colossians 3:1 ¶ So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. 2 Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. 3 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. 4 When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
J.B. Phillips
Colossians 3:1 ¶ IF you are then raised up with Christ, reach out for the highest gifts of Heaven, where Christ reigns in power. 2 Be concerned with the heavenly things, not with the passing things of earth. 3 For, as far as this world is concerned, you are already dead, and your true life is a hidden one in God, through Christ. 4 One day, Christ, who is your life, will show himself openly, and you will all share in that magnificent revelation.
Notes
Pursue, reach out (up) for, seek…
What needs to go so that what God wants can come, can be inherited?
1Chronicles 28:8 The Message (MSG) “And now, in this public place, all Israel looking on and God listening in, as God’s people, obey and study every last one of the commandments of your God so that you can make the most of living in this good land and pass it on intact to your children, insuring a good future.
What are “the passing things of earth?”
Romans 6:2b How can we who died to sin still live in it?
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Share in the inheritance of the saints in light
Colossians 1:12 American Standard Version (ASV) “...giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light;”
Colossians 3:5 ¶ And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God. 6 It’s because of this kind of thing that God is about to explode in anger. 7 It wasn’t long ago that you were doing all that stuff and not knowing any better. 8 ¶ But you know better now, so make sure it’s all gone for good: bad temper, irritability, meanness, profanity, dirty talk. 9 Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire.
Colossians 3:5 ¶ Consider yourselves dead to worldly contacts: have nothing to do with sexual immorality, dirty–mindedness, uncontrolled passion, evil desire, and the lust for other people’s goods, which amounts to idolatry. 6 It is because of these very things that the holy anger of God falls upon those who refuse to obey him. 7 And never forget that you had your part in those dreadful things when you lived that old life. 8 ¶ But now you must put away all these things: evil temper, furious rage, malice, insults and shouted abuse! 9 Don’t deceive each other with lies any more, for you have discarded the old nature and all that it did,
Notes
Galatians 5:24 Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.
Why don’t we in the church hear this loud and clear?
Ecclesiastes 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
“bad temper, irritability, meanness” “evil temper, furious rage, malice”
Proverbs 19:19 A violent-tempered person will be punished; if you try to save him from it, you make things worse.
Ty Jesus you know how to save us and sanctify us from the power of evil habits and attitudes.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it!
Colossians 3:10 Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. 11 Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ. 12 ¶ So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. 13 Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.
Colossians 3:10 and you have put on the new nature which, by constant renewal in the likeness of its Creator, leads to a fuller knowledge of God. 11 In this new man there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, foreigner or savage, slave or free man. Christ is all that matters for Christ lives in all. 12 ¶ As, therefore, God’s picked representatives, purified and beloved, put on that nature which is merciful in action, kindly in heart, and humble in mind. Accept life, and be most patient 13 and tolerant with one another, always ready to forgive if you have a difference with anyone. Forgive as freely as the Lord has forgiven you.
Notes
2Corinthians 5:18 All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other
2Corinthians 5:14 Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. 15 He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own. 16 ¶ Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore.
2Corinthians 5:19 God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing.
Colossians 3:14 And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. 15 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. 16 Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! 17 Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
Colossians 3:14 And, above everything else, be truly loving, for love binds all the virtues together in perfection. 15 Let the peace of Christ guide all your decisions, for you were called to live as one united body; and always be thankful. 16 Let the full richness of Christ’s teaching find its home among you. Teach and advise one another wisely. Use psalms and hymns and Christian songs, singing God’s praises from joyful hearts. 17 And whatever work you have to do, either in speech or action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, thanking God Father through him.
Notes
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
2 Peter 1:5 So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, 6 alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, 7 warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. 8 With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus.
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