Year 2, Day 218: Colossians 3

Things From Above

Paul gives some really solid advice in the opening verses of chapter 3.  Seek the things that are from above.  Seek the things that are where Christ is.  When Paul puts it this way, it makes a lot of sense.  If God is our God, then why wouldn’t we want the things that He desires?  The scary part of this is that if we want things the He does not want, then He really isn’t our God, then, is He?  If Jesus Christ really is our Lord, why would we want anything that isn’t a part of His domain?  If our comfort really is found in the Holy Spirit, why would we want anything to which He does not lead us?

Death to Ourselves

Paul goes on in verse 3 to say that we have died.  No, not physically.  But as Paul says in Galatians 2:20, the believer is crucified with Christ and it is no longer we who live but Christ who lives in us.  If God is really our God then we should consider ourselves as dead and live for God’s ways instead of our own. 

How do we consider ourselves dead?  Paul gives us a really nice list in verse 5. 

• We need to give up sexual sins.  Think about this one for a second.  How much would life be easier if the only sex that people had was with people to whom they are married?  Think of how many aspects of life our sexuality affects, and how different life would be if we as a race could reign our sexuality under control!  Also notice that this one is first on Paul’s list.
• The next one that Paul lists is impurity.  The word here is largely a word that means impurity through sexual means, but it can mean any uncleanliness from any source.  The main point is that it is behavior that makes us unclean.
• The next one on the list is passion, which literally is “pathos” in the Greek language.  It is the root for our word pathological.  These are behaviors that are driven from passion and an intense emotion.  It doesn’t mean that they don’t require thought, but it does mean that these are acts that are not inherently thought through.
• The next one on the list is evil desires, which is really just a New Testament way of saying coveting.  However, this word doesn’t mean just coveting, it has more to do with coveting our internal desires.  Things like overeating, alcoholism, and sexual satisfaction.  This is not the simple coveting of a person’s car or wealth.  This is a coveting of something that becomes a part of who we are.
• The next one in the list is coveting in general.  Here’s another one that I can ask the all-around simple question about.  How much better would life be if nobody ever got jealous of what another person has?
• Then Paul talks about the things that come out of our mouth: lies, slander, obscenities, etc.  Paul’s point is not unlike James’ point in James 3:5-12.  Our tongue is one of the most deadly weapons that we own.  

We need to remember this.

Life To An Identity In Christ

Instead, look to the life that Paul advocates.  

• We should be a people of forgiveness.  
• We should be a people of compassion.   
• Humble.  
• Kind.  
• Patient.  
• Bearing with one another.  
• Holy.  
• Grateful.  
• We must be a people of Christ’s peace.  
• Paul tells us to keep the Word of God in us as well as to teach and admonish the people around us whenever we can.  

We need to live in the Lord.  This is what it means to be a people of God.

Community

Then Paul goes about talking about the home.  Paul begins with the husband and wife relationship.  Wives submit to the husband; the husband loves the wife.  Children are to honor their parents; fathers are not to discourage their children.  Slaves and servants are to obey their masters genuinely, not simply to please them and look for personal gain.

All of this can be summed up simply: work for the Lord.  In a sense, this brings us back to where Paul begins in this chapter.  If we just live life as though Jesus is actually our Savior and God actually is our God, wouldn’t life be better?  If we model this behavior in our homes, will it not trickle out into our life in the world?  I’ve heard it said that “it starts at home.”  I think that’s true.  A good prayer life, a good relationship with God’s Word, the ability to have meaningful relationship with other Christians, a service-minded outlook, and a life of stewardship all begin at home.  If we live and learn the lessons that God would have us live and learn at home, this world would be a better place.  If we don’t take it seriously and mess it up at home, should it surprise us that our culture in general is getting it wrong, too?

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