October 28, 2019 - All things through Him-
For all who are Christian or to all who would become Christian, born-again followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2)
In order to become one with our Lord we must die to this world and its evilness and be raised with him in righteousness, then we will seek the things that are above and not the things of this earth.
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is." (Colossians 3:1)
"When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3:4)
From the day of your new birth in Christ, the day when you are raised with him, these are the things you are to do to follow him.
"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil, desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator." (Colossians 3:5-10)
And that is the image that all Christians are to reflect, the image of the goodness of Christ Jesus to the world.
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." (Colossians 3:12-13)
"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." (Colossians 3:14)
"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 3:13)
It is by our love for one another that we are known as the disciples of Christ Jesus our Lord.
"And let the peace of Christ rule in you hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3:15-17)
Do these things as Jesus asks of you that you too can then say; "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
For we are weak but he is strong and it is only through his strength that we are able to stand for him and cast his light into the darkness that is this world...
Praise and glory to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ...
