Monthly Archives: December 2024

THREE LET’s FOR LIFE – 2

Christian Life, ,

Colossians 3:16 NIV
[16] “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

The second “let” is as fundamental as the first. You see, our entire lives, past, present, and future, rest on the message of Christ in all it’s richness. “Dwelling” means living, being at home, being comfortable in the environment of all the details of what Jesus did and how they affect us.

This is about letting Jesus be sovereign in every minute detail of our lives. If He is Lord, then He IS Lord.

There are many ways in which we express His sovereignty and live it out day by day. One way is to obey Him in everything. Another way is to encourage others to obey Him in everything. Yet another way is to be perpetually and unconditionally grateful to Him in every circumstance and situation, no matter what.

This is the message of Jesus
He is qualified to be Lord. The Father gave Him that honour because He did what He did.

Philippians 2:5-11 NLT
[5] “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. [6] Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. [7] Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, [8] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. [9] Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

This is the message of Jesus in all its richness that must live in us like the fuel that drives an emgine.

How do we “Let the message of Christ dwell among you?” I notice with interest that this translation says “dwell among you” rather than “dwell in you.” The Greek preposition “en” denotes a fixed position, “in”. Christ’s presence in us is fixed position. “En” can be translated “among” but it seems that a more accurate rendering is “in”.

What does this mean for us? It means that His message has become fixed in us. This message influences all our thoughts and behaviour so that His message also becomes fixed among us, teaching us how to treat one another.

As we internalise the life of Jesus by reading and believing, His life in us enables us to think and act increasingly like Him.

Jeremiah predicted that the new covenant with which God was to replace the old, had this provision in it.

Jeremiah 31:33 NLT
[33] “But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

No longer would God’s Word just be laws and regulations written in a book. Now His Word would be woven into their lives because of their new nature, written on the pages of their hearts.

So, Paul says, let this new nature, so clearly portrayed in Jesus, and made real in us by His Spirit, be the controlling factor in our lives. Let’s allow our new nature to do it’s work just as we allow Christ’s peace to monitor and guide us along His path.

To be continued…

THREE LET’s FOR LIFE – 1

Christian Life, ,

Colossians 3:15-17 NLT
[15] “And LET the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace…”

When we look out at the world and what’ happening there, we see chaos, confusion, misery, and unhappiness as everyone, ruled by selfishness, clashes with everyone else in their world. Family members collide, communities collide, nations coliide, leaving a trail of brokenness and suffering.

Not so in God’s family!

Look what happens when we choose God’s perspective and fall in line with His thoughts and ways.

LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST

God has given us the reason and the ground rules of a new life in His family that works through love, humility, and mutual submission. His foundation is Jesus, the cornerstone of this “building” that holds everything together. He lives in us by His Spirit to make it happen.

When we play by the rules, God’s peace is the atmosphere of this family. So, not only is it His peace that monitors and referees the game of life we are in but is also the nature of the government of Jesus under which we live.

Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV
[6] “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, PRINCE OF PEACE . [7] Of the greatness of HIS GOVERNMENT AND PEACE there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

There it is! Jesus’ reign on earth will be a reign of eternal peace. Imagine that! He wants that for us all the time, even now in this unpredictable life.

So, we are encouraged, no, commanded to let…allow…the peace Jesus has provided for us in His salvation to govern our lives. How do we do that?

Paul said that this peace that gives us balance and enables us to stand firm in His truth, has two feet…

Ephesians 6:15 NIV
[15] “…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

One foot is “peace with God” through faith in what Jesus did on the cross.

Romans 5:1-2 NIV
[1] “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”

This “foot” of peace with God settles the issue of our sin. God has forever dealt with our sin which is, therefore, no longer an issue as long as we keep living by His Word.

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
[6] “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And THE PEACE OF GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The other “foot” that provides stability and balance in our day-to-day lives is the peace of God. This peace is the outcome of a stubborn, resilient, unassailable trust in God no matter what happens. This peace settles the issue of life’s uncertainties.

How can we handle every blow that comes our way? How can we deal with the anxieties that plague us because of life’s unexpected troubles? Paul says that we must trade our anxieties for His peace. We do this by maintaining a transparent relationship with God. Be honest with Him. Tell Him how you feel. I call this “spilling your guts to God.”

Your honesty will never change His attitude towards you. He knows you before you said a word. So, tell Him the truth about everything, no matter how bad you feel.

Jesus left us the legacy of His peace before He died.

John 14:27 NIV
[27] “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Peace in our hearts spills over into peace in Christ’s body.

So, LET Jesus’s peace rule in your heart and in His family of which we are all a part.

After all it’s all about “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

To be continued…

A NEW WARDROBE

Christian Life, ,

Colossians 3:12-15 NLT
[12] “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. [13] Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. [14] Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.”

Let’s go back, for a moment, into Israel’s history. Moses was in trouble or should I say, Israel was in trouble. They had hardly been in a covenant with God when they had slipped back into their old idolatrous ways. The first condition, in this covenant was “no other gods”. However, they persuaded Aaron to make them a god they could see and feel as a kind of representative of God, so they thought. God thought otherwise.

Exodus 32:9-10 NLT
[9] “Then the Lord said, “I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. [10] Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation.”

God was furious! They had very short memories! If this was the way they were going to treat His sacred pact with them, He was done! He was no longer obliged to keep His side of the covenant. Now they were on their own.

Moses was devastated! “You can’t do that, God. What about your promise to our ancestors?”

Exodus 32:13 NLT
[13] “Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.’”

Moses thought of a plan…

Not only did he persuade the Lord to continue leading His people to the Promised Land but he also requested something even greater…a personal revelation of God Himself. That was a bold and risky move but…he had a purpose.

Exodus 33:18 NLT
[18] “Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.”

So God responded.

Exodus 34:5-7 NLT
[5]Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. [6] The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. [7] I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.”

Moses got what he wanted, a revelation of God’s nature from His own mouth. Now he could appeal to God’s mercy to forgive Israel’s sin and continue to treat them as His own nation in covenant with Him.

Exodus 34:8-11 NLT
[8]”Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped. [9] And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.” [10] The Lord replied, “Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord—the awesome power I will display for you. [11] But listen carefully to everything I command you today. Then I will go ahead of you and drive out the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.”

David, in his matchless Psalm 103, revelled in this revelation of God’s glory in his own experience.

Psalms 103:2, 7-11 NLT
[2]”Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me…
[7] He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. [8] The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. [9] He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. [10] He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. [11] For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.”

This revelation of God’s glory, who He is, so graciously given to Moses in the face of Israel’s dismal failure, forms the foundation of all our dealings with one another in the New Covenant. It was this God, gracious and compassionate, who sent His Son to be our substitute and to take His wrath against sin for us.

God’s plan was to recreate a species of people, redeemed from their old sinful lives, to be a family of sons and daughters just like His own Son. He did everything necessary to achieve His purpose. “Now,” He says, “you have all the equipment you need to become like my Son.”

Paul takes the attributes of God, revealed to Moses and experienced by David, and weaves them into His requirements for us as the foundation and reason for the way we treat one another in our new identity as His sons and daughters. If God is like this to us, then we must treat each other in the same way.

God forgave…we must forgive. God is compassionate and merciful to us…we must be the same to one another.

“Humble, gentle, kind, and patient” is the way Jesus lived His life on earth. Love is the outer garment that covers all the little issues that can spoil our fellowship with the Father and with one another. Now we can be the same as Jesus because He is in us by his Spirit. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

So, Paul says, “Go ahead! Put them on and wear them every day.” We have a clear picture of our new set of clothing when we look at Jesus.

To complete this outfit, Paul adds another two dimensions to our new lives…peace and gratitude.

God’s peace, the tranquility of heart unaffected by circumstances or by the devil’s efforts to accuse and condemn us as we live by God’s truth, holds us steady on course. His peace in our hearts, a legacy from Jesus, acts like a referee in a sports game. Break the rules and the ref blows the whistle. Stop the game; correct the problem; then continue.

So it is in life. When we wander off the path, we lose our peace. Stop! Find the place where we left the path. Put it right. God’s peace returns. We have a reliable monitor that helps us stay on track.

The second ingredient, gratitude! A thankful, praising heart is the other powerful way to guide us as we navigate life with its hardships and challenges. A sure way to get God’s disapproval is to grumble and complain. God does not condone ingratitude because it reveals our distrust of His goodness. By contrast, gratitude says, “I don’t care what happens. I believe that God is good, all the time.”

Paul’s teaching about who Jesus is and what He has done for us and in us, is the solid foundation on which to build the structure of our lives. It’s the building material that won’t burn in the flames of God’s judgment.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NLT
[11] For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ… [12] Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. [13] But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. [14] If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. [15] But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.”

So, dear brothers and sisters, armed with the truth, let’s build lives of love by putting on the clothes provided in the gospel. When we do that, we are assured of a place in God’s kingdom, not because of any good works but because of our faith in and obedience to Jesus as Lord.

CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES

Christian Life, ,

Colossians 3:5, 7, 10 NLT
[5] “So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world….
[7] You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world…
[10] Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”

Change your clothes! You used to wear selfishness as your garment of choice. You used to pander to every desire of your evil nature. Now you have a new nature. Christ lives in you, and He has a change of clothing for you…righteousness, His gift to those who believe in Him.

Your old clothing reflected who you were, self-aware and self-absorbed.

Colossians 3:7-9 NLT
[7] “You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. [8] But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. [9] Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.”

You have a new nature now. Wear the garments of righteousness that show who you are.

“Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”

What does it mean to “put off” and “put on”?

The theory of salvation, all that God has done through Jesus before the beginning of time, must have a counterpart, actively responding by faith to the promise of transformatiom. The Bible says, God has done everything to bring you back into fellowship with Him. Your part is to believe and live out what God has done.

David understood the process.

Psalms 116:12-13 NIV
[12] “What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? [13] I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.”

Living out means refusing to do, saying no to what our old nature demanded. “Putting off” means choosing not to lie, steal, or act in any way that reflects who you used to be. It’s deliberately discarding the old “clothes” of sin.

Jesus made this possible by forgiving our sin and putting His own nature in us.

“Putting on”, means choosing to live out His nature in us. Love is the wrapping in which this gift of righteousness comes to us. Every thought and action that expresses His love is the “clothing” we now wear.

Why is it imperative that we change our clothes? We must live out the righteousness Jesus gave us as a witness to the transformation the Holy Spirit is working in us. This is the only evidence that we have that we have been supernaturally born into God’s kingdom.

Romans 8:12-14 NLT
[12] “Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. [13] For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. [14] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”

Not to put to death, not to put off the old clothes of the flesh is to deny that we are God’s children. The evidence that we are members of His family is real only as we are being recreated in the image of our Creator.

Colossians 3:10 NLT
[10]”Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.”

The tragedy is that many people think that answering an altar call or praying the “sinner’s prayer” is evidence of their salvation. It doesn’t work that way. The real evidence is a transformed life through the work of the Holy Spirit in them.

Remember, Paul is writing to ex-pagans who were right up there with the best of them when it came to living out their old nature.

Colossians 3:7 NLT
[7] “You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world.”

Paul urges them to understand that they are now part of a new species, not just participants in another religion. They are a new creation in Christ Jesus, citizens of a new realm, members of a new family made up of transformed people from every group on earth.

Galatians 3:27-28 NLT
[27] “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. [28] There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 3:11 NLT
[11] “In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.”

This union with Jesus cut us loose from living the old way. Jesus gave us the power to say “No,” and make “no” happen.

1 John 3:9-10 NIV
[9] “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. [10] This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.”

So, let’s live out who we are, in the power of the who is in us by His Spirit, Christ in us, the hope of glory.

CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

Christian Life, ,

Colossians 3:1-4 NLT
[1] “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. [2] Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. [3] For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”

How relevant is Paul’s instruction to us today! Our world is no different from the world of his day. Wickedness, idolatry, corruption, sexual perversion, crime…every kind of evil you can think of happens today as it happened then.

How can we handle life as God’s children in a cesspool of wickedness? There’s no escape. We must get rid of the foolish notion that we are exempt from these adversities because we are God’s children. Jesus assured us that hardships will always be our lot in this world.

John 16:33 NLT
[33] “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Paul gives us another way, the only way to remain sane and persevere despite our earthly circumstances. “Don’t dwell on these things. Dwell on the truth and reality behind all these goings-on.”

So, what’s the truth and reality we are to make our focus?

“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”

It’s a simple change of perspective. If the “things of earth” are frustrating and depressing, one thing is sure. This world as it is now, is transient. Everything that makes the world what it is will pass away. All wickedness, sin, and evil will be swept off the board when Jesus returns.

2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT
[18] “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

1 John 2:17 NLT
[17] “And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”

Revelation 21:1-7 NLT
[1] “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. [2] And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. [3] I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. [4] He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are GONE FOREVER.” [5] And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” [6] And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. [7] All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.”

Why is it possible and necessary for us to change our perspective? Paul says, “Dead people are immune to earthly circumstances!” Wow! Have you ever thought of that? Dead people are no longer concerned about or affected by inflation, the high cost of living, lack of service delivery, the crime rate, government corruption and incompetence, and…and…They are beyond all those considerations. While people on earth wrangle and fight, kill and destroy, something different is happening in the unseen realm. God is moving all history towards its predetermined end.

So, the real deal is that you are now dead to the present world. You are alive in another realm. Your are already with Jesus in the realm of rule and authority.

Ephesians 2:6-7 NLT
[6] “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. [7] So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.”

This doesn’t mean that you can call the shots. This means that you are right beside the One who has the right and power to call the shots…and He will, at the right time.

Revelation 21:1-7 NLT
[1] Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. [2] And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. [3] I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. [4] He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” [5] And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” [6] And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. [7] All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.”

So, whatever is happening in the earthly realm now, however difficult and frustrating it might be, will not last forever. No one will get away with wickedness. God’s judgment and justice will be given and everyone will reap their appropriate reward.

For us to participate in the rewards of heaven, we must live in that realm now by trusting in the One who did it all for us, and living within the boundaries of heaven’s constitution, the New Covenant.

[3] “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. [4] And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”

In the next section, Paul gives us the rule of thumb that makes this life in the heavenly realm possible and a reality….