Hidden with Christ

    “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3)

    In the book of Colossians, the apostle Paul really speaks to us about how to live out the Christian life. He tells us that our life is to be “hidden with Christ in God.”

    Oswald Chambers says this about that statement: “‘Your life is hidden with Christ in God.’ Christ is our entire life. When once we realize this, certain forms of doubt and perplexity vanish forever. If we set our affection on things above, those perplexities will never trouble us anymore because we know the Lord Jesus, and He is not distracted by these present perplexities.” (Oswald Chambers, Reading 286, Oswald Chambers Devotional Bible)

    Are you setting your affection on things above or are you letting the everyday worries of life drag you down? Hide your life in Christ, He has everything under control and He is watching over you every single day and night. He does not take any days off! (Psalms 121:4)

    Paul continues: “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” (Verses 5,8-10)

    We are to put off, or put to death, those things in our life that characterized our lives before we were saved. We are new creations and made in the image of our Creator who gave His life on the cross that we might be conformed to His image! Then once we have put off these things, we can put on something so much better!

    “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, mercies, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” ( Verses 12-14)

    Yes, that is a tough list that Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, has told us to do! We are to put on kindness, meekness, longsuffering, and to forgive those who have wronged us. We cannot do it on our own strength. We need the Holy Spirit to control us and fill us daily! Lastly, we do all in love!

    “Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word and deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Verses 16-17,23-24)

     Read and study God’s Word so that it can dwell in you richly! Praise Him with song and music with your whole heart and whatever you do in word or deed do it for Him and not for what others might say or think. We belong to a Him, (Praise God) and a thankfulness and joy in our service to a Him should flow naturally from our hearts and minds. 

PRAY 

1.   Lord we praise you and thank you for saving us and adopting us into your family for eternity. Help us as we put off the old man and become new creatures in Christ.

2.   Fill us with Your Spirit today that we are able to be kind, merciful, and loving to those You put in our pathway today.

3.   Bring to mind anyone that we need to go to and ask their forgiveness and help us to forgive those who have wronged us, just as You, so graciously, have forgiven us.