God's Word for Me Today
Thursday, September 13, 2001
Focus: Our Mission: Sharing the New Life of Jesus Christ
A note about online study
Introduction to God's Word for Me Today
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, You have given me a new life for which I am eternally grateful. Today open Your Word to me that I may gain a deeper understanding of that new life, and empower me by Your Holy Spirit that I may live it with passion and zeal. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
God's Word for Me Today: Colossians 3:1-11
1Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. 2Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. 3For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
5So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust, and shameful desires. Don’t be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry. 6God’s terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. 7You used to do them when your life was still part of this world. 8But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. 10In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you. 11In 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.
Questions for Reflection
When you think of heaven, what do you look forward to the most?
If you could live in any era of history, when would you live? Why?
Questions for Exploration
According to the Apostle Paul, who is the source of our new life? (3:1) What is the result of receiving the new life? (3:1-2)
What will happen when Jesus returns or “is revealed to the whole world? (3:3-4)
Since we have been raised to new life, what are we to do with earthly thing, by which Paul means sinful actions and thoughts? (3:5-9)
What have we received or been “clothed” with as a result of receiving the new life Jesus gives us? (3:10-11)
Questions for Understanding
What does it mean to set our sights on the realities of heaven? Why does Paul want us to do this, since we are still living on the earth?
What does it mean to “put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within us”?
Paul uses an analogy of stripping off our old clothing (sin) and replacing in with new clothing (a brand new nature) when we receive the new life of Jesus. How effective have you found this analogy for explaining the transformation that has or is taking place in your life?
Paul concludes by telling us that Christ is all that matters. What does that mean to you in your everyday life?
Questions for Application
What are some effective, practical ways for you to put the sinful nature to death in daily living? Be specific.
Which of these means will you use today, for living more fully for Jesus?
Receiving Jesus breaks down all barriers and distinctions of race, gender, economic condition, etc… in our lives. What does that mean in our day to day living? What one action will you take to break down one of those barriers today?
Think about the New Life!
As we move to the conclusion of our week of focusing on sharing the new life we receive from Jesus, and more precisely, focusing on what it means to have the new life Jesus offers, how have you been doing at living the new life? Jesus and the Apostle Paul make it clear that the new life we receive from Jesus bring about obvious transformation in our lives. While living the new life is a struggle, and we always battle the “old nature,” victories are part of living the new life. What victories have you celebrated this week? Think of a specific time when you put the old nature to death, by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you.
Taking the time to evaluate our progress as followers of Jesus is vital. We don’t grow without stopping on a regular basis to see what changes are evident to us and also to others. Are we experiencing more victories? Do we speak more kindly? Are we more patient? Do we find ourselves reading the Scripture more attentively? Are our prayers becoming more natural and regular—do we praise God as well as ask Him to supply our needs? Are we treating those closest to us—our family members, our classmates, our co-workers with consistent patience and love? Asking these questions may make us realize that we aren’t yet where we want to be, but hopefully they’ll also show us that we’re farther along in the journey of discipleship than we once were.
Far too often, we accept the new life Jesus offers us as the gift it is, but then leave the gift unused. Jesus wants to do so much more than save us from sin and death, which is amazing in itself, He wants to empower us to “grow up” to be just like Him! While that may seem like a distant dream, it is Jesus’ vision for each of us. Martin Luther said that Christians ought to be a community of “little Christs” showing the world the love, joy, and power of the transformed life. Today is our best opportunity show Jesus’ new life to each person we meet, because today is the only day we’re guaranteed. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is a question. Today is the day to live and share the new life!
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