The Choice Is Ours
Rules for Holy Living
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Tommy's Thoughts:
Yesterday, I was reading something I wrote 5 years ago. They’re funny; it’s so different the ‘me’ now and then. In just few short years, my thoughts, perspectives and priorities has changed so much. I used to hear friends saying Christianity can brainwash us, turning us into weird religious fanatic and anti-socials. But, the truth is exactly the opposite. By letting Christ live within us, we’ll be able to find true freedom and our actual true self; who we suppose and should be.
It’s a continuing lifelong education program; our life will change positively day by day when Christ gives us the power and strength to live for Him; imitating His attitudes in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, thankfulness and patience; forgiving others; concentrating on things that lasts like relationships and character and letting love guide our life.
What makes a Christian fall back to sin and continually trapped in bondages is that they still try hard to put to death their helpless old self; using all kinds of techniques, diversions and efforts. We can’t put to death what it’s already dead! We need to realize and remember always that when we believe Christ has died for our sins, our old self already died together with Him. And when Christ rose from the grave, we too have been raised with Him with a new self and a new heart.
It's only when we come to this realization, we will start considering our self dead and unresponsive to all wrongful desires. Though temptations are still there, but we can make conscious, daily decision with the help of the Holy Spirit, to choose not to entertain or feed them.
Dear Lord, Thank You for drawing me near to You; teaching me to put on the new self. Remind me O Lord, to match my daily conduct with my faith in You, representing You at all times to the world. Lord, help me to be committed and remaining true to You always; taking the right actions in every situations and changing every areas of my life to bring glory and honor to Your name.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Bee's Thoughts:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
I like the above hymn 'cos it reminds me to think of things above and not things on earth. Sometimes in the midst of my business I might forget that I am just a 'passerby' on earth and small problems look so big. But the moment I remember that my goal is heaven, everything seems trivial.
I wonder why the bible says "over all these virtues put on love" (v14). Doesn't "love" covers all these "virtues"? Perhaps a person can have these virtues without loving... for agape love is unconditional.
Dear Lord,
May You constantly remind me of where I am heading for eternaity. Let me choose to focus on You rather than on things around me so that Your peace can rule in my heart always. Let me love with Your unconditional love too. Give me grace to do everything for Your name's sake.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
.......the devotion of Bee & Tommy
