Jesus Is Your Life

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A series from the Book of Colossians is being taught each Sunday by our Pastor Carl.    He is using the Message Bible reading from Colossians chapter 3, which sheds new light on the meaning.  Listening intently I took notes, and here I share some of his thoughts with you.

Colossians 3:1-2

So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. 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.

Paul illustrates two things side by side: Negative and positive, before and after. We once were dead spiritually, but now we are alive in Christ.

Paul states that we once did not know any better, but now that we do, we are responsible to cast aside all works of unrighteousness, such as a hot temper, irritability, lying, profanity, lust, perversion in any form, and bury it.

We have been changed from sinner to saints, from unbelievers to believers, once filled with fear now strong with His strength.

There is the old and the new, the false and the truth, the ugly old garments, exchanged for a new wardrobe.

We once were wearing ticky-tacky clothes, now we can toss them in the fire and receive a new line of clothing with a label that has His name written there.

We can wear His righteousness with pride. He outfits us with compassion, kindness, even temper, contentment, purity and the greatest gift is Love. We spill over with gratitude and thanksgiving.

Pastor illustrated with a story of a minister who each morning would dress his mind with beautiful Godly clothing for the day. He would visualize himself putting on each of the garments of Salvation and for the day he would wear his spiritual clothing with boldness, honor and grace.

Colossians 3: 15-17 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. 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! 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.

This post has been shared at: Hear it on Sunday Use it on Monday. Visit and Enjoy! http://nebraskagraceful.blogspot.com/2011/08/hear-it-on-sunday-use-it-on-monday-yeah.html

Also shared at: In and Around Mondays: http://seedlingsinstone.blogspot.com/