Seek Things Above

Reading:  Colossians 3:1-11
    
    Paul positions us between a great past salvation (“if then you have been raised with Christ”, Col 3:1) and a vibrant future hope (“when Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory”, Col 3:4).  We have participated in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, putting away our sinful past (Col 2:11-13, 3:1).  But we don’t yet have the full life and glory we anticipate.  So how do we live in the in-between time?

    First, Paul encourages us to “seek the things that are above, where Christ is”(Col 3:1) and to “set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth”(Col 3:2).  We keep our eyes on Jesus.  We do not merely react to worldly events, pursue worldly interests, or hope for worldly joys.  Jesus has shown us what truly matters about life—humility, compassion, sacrifice, service, transformation, love—and we continue to focus on these priorities in daily living and relationships.  Second, Paul tells us to “put to death what is earthly in you:  sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry”(Col 3:5).  Real life-change is our task.  Some behaviors and attitudes are no longer fitting, given who our master now is.  Evil desires (including inappropriate sexual relationships) must be “put to death.”  Several manifestations of anger and bitterness are singled out (Col 3:8).  Lying is inappropriate as we become new people (Col 3:9).  Each of these verses speaks to an intense process of learning new habits, addressing character flaws, choosing to speak differently, and embracing forgiveness.  We undertake these tasks for two reasons:  such behavior will bring God’s wrath (Col 3:6) and it is incompatible with following Jesus (Col 3:9-10).

    Each day disciples must consciously choose to “seek the things that are above, where Christ is.”  What does Jesus think about me, my life, my relationship, my words, and my behavior?  What does Jesus want me to accomplish?  What does Jesus think about the world around me?  These thoughts naturally lead me to examine what parts of my life need to be “put to death.”  We cannot afford to merely react to the earthly concerns around us; we must “seek the things that are above.”

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One Thing to Think About: How will I seek things above today? 

One Thing to Pray For:   Clarity to see what is earthly in myself
 

Self-Made Religion

Reading:  Colossians 2:20-23
    
    Some people are troubling the Colossians by appeals to philosophy (Col 2:8) and Jewish worship (Col 2:16-17) that do not come from Jesus.  “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God”(Col 2:18-19).  Asceticism is the practice of strict, rigorous treatment of the body.  The combination of asceticism, angel-worship, and fixation on spiritual visions concerns Paul because it springs from someone’s “sensuous mind” instead of from Jesus.  Not everything that seems spiritual or wise or worthwhile truly is.  We can only trust what comes from Christ.

    Paul insists that our new life in Christ means we are no longer subject to regulations that come from man (“according to human precepts and teachings”, Col 2:22).  He specifically mentions rules like “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch”(Col 2:21).  The general tone is that we could avoid sin by limiting our exposure to certain objects or substances.  Jesus, however, teaches us that it is not anything outside us that defiles us, but what comes from our hearts (Mark 7:20-23).  So what about these rules?  “These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh”(Col 2:23).  Such practices appear to be wise but are not effective.  It is only through the Spirit of Christ that we have success in stopping our indulgence.  Making our own religion is not just disloyal; it also doesn’t work.  

    Christians must distinguish between service to God that goes above and beyond to please him and service that merely originates with ourselves.  Certainly it is not wrong for us to think about how to apply Jesus’ words and draw specific plans of action to live them out.  Yet our belief and practice does not originate with men.  Self-made religion is a move away from Christ.  Christians don’t get to make our own religion; it comes from Jesus.

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One Thing to Think About: In what areas am I tempted to listen to myself rather than Jesus?  Why? 

One Thing to Pray For:   The spiritual nourishment that comes from Jesus
 

Shadow and Substance

Reading:  Colossians 2:11-19
    
    Paul is reassuring that the Colossians have all that they need in Christ, so they don’t need to seek knowledge, experience, or rules for life outside of him.  It is in Jesus that they have had their formative spiritual experience:  “in him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead”(Col 2:11-12).  Just as Abraham’s circumcision signaled a connection with God by cutting off part of his body, so our “circumcision” in Christ connects us to him as we discard our old sinful life.  We also reenact his burial and resurrection as we are “buried with him in baptism,” confident that God will give us new life though we are in the “grave.”  And he has!  “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of our flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven all our trespasses”(Col 2:13).  It is only in Christ that we have found this transformation, forgiveness, and regeneration.

    This also changes the way we live going forward.  Since he has “(canceled) the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands”(Col 2:14), we no longer live obligated to a law that condemns us.  Paul seems to have the Law of Moses in mind particularly here:  “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.  These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ”(Col 2:16-17).  Paul refers to several actions involved in keeping Moses’ Law (food, drink, festivals, new moons, Sabbaths) and insists that the Colossians not let others judge them for not observing them.  Christians need not live as Jews.  The power of Moses’ Law is in its reflection of Christ, but we already have the substance of Christ.

    Moses’ Law pointed to a greater reality, hinting that God had a greater, higher, and more complete salvation to offer.  It was the shadow, but Christ is the substance.  In Christ, those allusions find their fulfillment in a richer, Spirit-empowered life.  Only in Christ do we have all that we need.

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One Thing to Think About: Why do we often find rules like these (v. 16) appealing? 

One Thing to Pray For:   Stronger remembrance of how Jesus has saved me from my sins
 

All the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge

Reading:  Colossians 2:1-10
    
    His heart once again on his sleeve, Paul shares his concerns for the Colossians:  “For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”(Col 2:1-3).  Paul yearns for those Christians whom he has not personally met because he wants them too to grow to maturity—especially in courage, maturity, and confidence.  But his special concern here is that new believers discover that in Jesus “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  Jesus is the source of everything we really need to know to live life well and find eternal life.  

    The reason this is so important is that other people are peddling knowledge that does not come from Jesus.  It is clear Paul is concerned with these influences throughout the letter:  some may “delude you with plausible arguments”(Col 2:4) or “(take) you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition”(Col 2:8) or “disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels”(Col 2:18).  All of these approaches rest on a claim of knowledge or wisdom, yet all are bankrupt because they do not come from Jesus.  “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving”(Col 2:6-7).  We do not grow away from Jesus, but deeper into him so that we are strongly rooted and firmly established.  “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority”(Col 2:9-10).  Since Jesus is the fullness of God, it is only in him that we can be filled with all that we need.  

    These verses may seem abstract, but the point is essential.  So many voices vie for our attention.  Scientists, politicians, celebrities, internet stars, and family members all offer some measure of wisdom and knowledge.  Do we really believe that we find all the wisdom and knowledge we need in Jesus?  Or do we keep seeking real wisdom for living in other places?  

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One Thing to Think About: How can I listen to others’ thoughts without being “deluded” or taken “captive” by them? 

One Thing to Pray For:   To be encouraged and knit together in love with my brothers and sister

Mature in Christ

Reading:  Colossians 1:24-29
    
    As God has begun the great project of “(reconciling) to himself all things”(Col 1:20) through Jesus, he has included mere men like Paul in the process.  “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known”(Col 1:24-25).  Paul is writing this letter from prison (Col 4:3), so his “sufferings” are not merely mental.  Yet he rejoices because his endurance can benefit the church, of which he is a steward and servant (“minister”).  His willingness to suffer bodily for the cause reminds everyone that the gospel is real, powerful, and worth hurting for.  That gospel also contains the great “mystery”(Col 1:26, 27), hidden from generations, that God wanted to save Jews and Gentiles together through Jesus.  God has done a new thing that blesses more people and brings glory to himself, so Paul is willing to suffer to tell others about it.

    It also explains Paul’s intense dedication to teaching the gospel even to believers.  “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.  For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me”(Col 1:28-29).  Paul teaches people about Jesus over and over again, doling out warnings and wisdom, because it will help them mature.  Just as physical growth demands time and nourishment, so spiritual growth requires a consistent diet of Jesus.  And just as Jesus wants to “present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him”(Col 1:21), so Paul wants to “present everyone mature in Christ”(Col 1:28).  He pictures Jesus inspecting his bride as Paul brings her to him—and finding her pure, strong, and mature.  “For this I toil”; this “presentation” fuels Paul’s great drive, along with the power of Jesus working within him.

    God’s will for his people is not that they simply “make a decision” for Jesus; it is that they grow into the image of Jesus.  God wants us to mature.  He wants us to learn to make wise choices in everyday living; he wants us to grow into loving, peaceful, patient people; he wants us to tell others about Jesus; he wants us to learn to give and not simply take.  This is the reason we study, pray, worship, and serve together:  so that someday we will be found mature in Christ. 

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One Thing to Think About: Am I motivated by helping my brothers and sisters grow? 

One Thing to Pray For:   The energy of Jesus working powerfully within me to accomplish his will