Being “Realistic”
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In my junior year in college, I tried wooing a young woman in another college. This required that I made the five hour trips from my campus to hers often, and it became part of my routine. But I got there one day to find her in total disarray. I had never seen her in such a state before, and got really confused when I got to know the reason — she had been wrongly confronted by someone for doing something she never even thought of! I did not know what to do, so I told her to pray about it; and she immediately turned to me, and said:
“Bernard, I want you to be realistic!”
Often when people say this, they expect practical steps they can take.
I expect similar reactions after going on and on, about the enemy in the last three devotionals entitled “The Devil Within,” “Disguised – Be On Guard,” and “Lured and Enticed”
I believe that Apostle Paul had a similar task of “being realistic,” or practical, when he wrote the letter to the Colossians from a Roman prison around A.D 62; a letter, which has now come to be known as one of his prison epistles. Today’s text, entitled “Living The New Life” in the New Living Translation Bible, is one of the most direct instructions about practical Christian living I have seen. It is taken from Colossians 3:1-17. This is what is says.
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. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
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. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 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.
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 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 the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
(Colossians 3:1-17 NLT).
Seven Points to note from this:
- The Christian’s life is hidden in Christ (vv. 1-4)
- The Christian should put the sinful earthly things, lurking within him/her, to death. (some were listed – v. 5-9)
- The Christian should put on the new nature. (vv. 10)
- The new nature develops as the Christian learns to know the Creator, and become like Him (vv. 10) .
- Christ lives in all Christians. So no Christian should discriminate against anyone based on anything (vv. 11)
- Christians should exhibit the character of God (some were listed in vv. 12-13); and above all clothe themselves with:
- Love – which binds all Christians together (vv. 14)
- Peace – to which all Christians were called; and a product of thankfulness.(vv. 15)
- The messages of Christ should fill the Christian’s heart, be shared with others such that all Christians become representatives of Christ wherever they find themselves, in what they do and say, to the glory of God.(vv. 16-17)
May these words guide us to be victorious in our Christian Living.
MEMORY VERSE
“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”
(Colossians 1:17)
QUESTIONS
- Does living the Christian life look challenging to you?
- Do you know it involves certain sacrifices, but there is practical help; and its greatest promise is peace?
PRAYER TIP
Father, please help us know that in You we have absolute peace; and all the help to live in love, and victory.
URGENT CALL
By nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God. We ultimately face the wrath of God!
But God in His mercy and love gives us a chance to reverse this trend, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer” for
guidance if you want to
make that decision.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page.
God richly bless you.
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
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