1 Chron. 22:19

-Seeking His Presence- Colossians 3

10:00 PM


Please read: Colossians 3

On my last post on “Repentance” (2 Peter 1:1-11) I focused on some of the qualities we as Christians are to continue to persevere on our Christian walk.  In today’s reading, through Paul’s words, we also find the encouragement to persevere as he calls us to: “keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”


This means, we are to intentionally and continually seek Him, and in the second verse we read:
“Set your mind and keep focused habitually on the things above [the heavenly things], not on things that are on the earth [which have only temporal value].” (3:2)
That is, we must make a habit, a discipline to keep our minds (our beings) focused on the things that please God.

"The believer is to 'seek the things… above.' The word 'seek' marks aspiration, desire, and passion…. In order to seek these things the mind must be set on them." (Morgan)
 "Love heavenly things; study them; let your hearts be entirely engrossed by them. Now, that you are converted to God, act in reference to heavenly things as ye did formerly in reference to those of earth." (Clarke)

King David, is known as “a man after God’s heart”, for he loved his Lord wholeheartedly, and in many of his Psalms we can realize his longing for God:

Psalm 84:1-2  “How lovely are Your dwelling places,
O Lord of hosts! 2  My soul (my life, my inner self) longs for and greatly desires the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

David even gave these instructions to his people before the construction of God’s temple:
“Now set your heart and your soul to seek (inquire of, require as your vital necessity) the Lord your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy articles and utensils of God into the house built for the Name (Presence) of the Lord.” (1 Chron. 22:19 AMP)

Thanks to Jesus’s Saving Sacrifice, His Holy Spirit dwells in us! We don’t need a sanctuary to meet with God anymore! It has been our Father’s desire to be in communion with us:
“…If anyone [really] loves Me, he will keep My word (teaching); and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling place with him. (John 14:16-17 AMP)

Isn’t this an amazing privilege we sometimes take for granted? We let the busyness, the difficulties, and other “earthly things” take the place that should be reserved for the things above!
Paul reminds us: “3 For you died [to this world], and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, [a]appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (3:3-4)

We have been transformed through His Sacrifice, and even though our lives in this world can be difficult, we are not alone for He is with us. He is “our life”, our ALL! And because of Him, we also have the great promise of eternal life with Him!! This is really humbling… what great HONOR!! Thank you Jesus!!

 “After a man has attained unto eternal life by confiding in the Lord Jesus, he then goes on to seek the Lord in quite another way…The man now seeks the Lord by daily and constant prayer, seeking that he may be upheld, guided, constrained in paths of righteousness, and restrained from the ways of sin. He becomes a seeker of the Lord after sanctification as once he was after justification. And then he becomes a seeker of the Lord in a further sense. He seeks to enjoy the Lord's love, and his gracious fellowship and communion. He seeks to get near in reverent friendship to his Lord. He now longs to grow up in the likeness of Christ, that his intercourse with the Father and the Son may be more close, more sweet, more continuous. He feels that God is his Father, and that he is no longer at a distance from him in one sense, for he is made nigh by the blood of the cross. Yet sometimes he is oppressed with a sense of his old evil heart of unbelief and in departure from the living God, and he cries out, "Draw me nearer to thyself." (C. Spurgeon)

Father, forgive me for the times I live to please myself, rather than you. Sometimes I would rather do things my way, instead of submitting to you and your plans. Please help me to walk in obedience and to seek Your Will in every step I take. Yes Lord, draw me nearer to you! In Jesus’ Name. I pray. Amen

Mari


Colossians 3

Sing Loud, Sing Proud {Colossians 3}

1:00 AM




“Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.”.....Martin Luther

Colossians 3

It doesn’t get much better than driving in your car, the sun shining, windows down, and your favorite song blaring on the radio. Whether it be from the lyrics, the beat, or the melody, music has the amazing ability to bring forth a variety of physical responses. The perfect sad song can console a broken heart, whereas a love song can put into words all the feelings romance can bring. An anthem can inspire action, a sports chant unify, and an old familiar children’s song educate. Music is one of God’s most beautiful gifts, and I couldn’t imagine life without it. But meant for more than just entertainment, music is an important part of the Christian walk of faith.

In Colossians 3 the Apostle Paul gives us guidelines and characteristics we should practice as followers of Jesus. And music is included in his list of instructions. “Let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (vs. 16) Knowing the capacity music has to change both hearts and lives, here Paul tells us to use the songs we sing to both teach the Word of God, and to gently advise those who may need correcting. And we should do so with hearts of thanksgiving and with the goals of helping each other in our walk of faith, and most of all to glorify God.

The greatest purpose music can serve is when we use it as God intended, as a means to worship Him. When the music we play and the songs we sing declare our devotion, thankfulness, and appreciation, we show both God, and world around us, that we have hearts abounding in love for the Lord. “While the word of Christ enables us to worship God in truth, singing allows us to worship Him in spirit. While to worship rightly we must know God as revealed in His Word of truth, if that truth doesn’t move our hearts, something is wrong.Singing is one way to express our love for God and gratitude for what He’s done for us in Christ. It’s no accident that the longest book in the Bible is a song book and God called its main author a man after His heart. Throughout history, whenever the hearts of  God’s people have been right before Him, there has been joyful singing and the writing of new songs of praise”....Steven J. Cole

A minister once said that music is a way to give voice to the overflowing joy and deep adoration we feel in our hearts for God. And again in Ephesians 5:19 Paul instructs us to speak to one another, “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” When I think of all God has done and continues to do for me each and every day, I can’t help but have a melody in my heart and a song of joy on my lips. And although the voice God gave me may not be able to carry a tune to save my life, I will sing just the same. I will sing loud, I will sing proud, and I will sing a song of God’s greatness! 





Becky Austin

Christ Is All, and In All (Colossians 3)

11:57 PM



Colossians 3

When I think of the goodness of God, I think of His perfect goodness permeating through the evil, sin, and harsh corruption of a less than perfect world. He did not abandon us to the fate of hopelessness, but instead, He sent Christ to bring overcoming good to be manifested within and among us. This chapter in Colossians reminds us of that hope and encourages us to be vessels through which His goodness impacts the world around us. 

Because we are “ in Christ” we have the hope of a future beyond this life and that should be our focus. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (3:1-4). If the trials of this world burden you, then you can be comforted that this life is temporary but we have a better life to come that is eternal.  

Because of God’s goodness, we are given “ a spiritual new self” and we have the privilege of spiritual connection with God and His Holy Spirit to teach us. We are empowered to live differently. “....you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (3:9-10) 

The world judges, criticizes and condemns but in God’s view, we are all made equal through Christ. It’s not about your looks, your race, your sex, your education, your talents, your money, etc. It’s about Christ within you.  “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.” (3:11) 

God, in His goodness, chose us and has a special regard for each one of us. We are encouraged to extend the goodness shown to us toward each other. “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (3:12-15) 

God, in His goodness, gives purpose to our lives no matter what the circumstances. It’s not about job title, career accomplishments, trophies or earthly recognition. It’s about fulfilling God’s purposes as we bloom where He plants us. He will reward our faithfulness to Him. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (3:23-24) 
 
 God is a God of goodness and He wants us to know the blessings of His goodness in this life and also in the eternity He has promised us. He loves, empowers, and equips each of us. We are His beloved children. The old song ‘Jesus Loves the Little Children’ still reminds us we are each unique and “ precious in His sight”.