“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3:3-4
“Follow your heart”? But our hearts will not point us to heaven. For that, we need Jesus.
When a person died in ancient Greece, the deceased was referred to as being “hidden in the earth.” Paul says believers are hidden with Christ. One day we’ll be gloriously with Him in heaven!
In the early church, people removed their old clothes after baptism and put on new clothes to symbolize new life. Paul instructs us (in 3:5-10) to rid ourselves of the “old clothing” sins that we have worn: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil, greed, anger, rage, slander, filthy language, lying.
Imagine a committee of these sins in your heart. They cause nothing but inner turmoil. You turn to Jesus and “say to him, ‘My life isn’t working. Please come in and fire my committee, every last one of them. I hand myself over to you. I am your responsibility. Please run my whole life for me.’ Accepting Jesus is not just adding Jesus. It is also subtracting the idols” (Ray Ortlund, Jr., 2010). Abandon the idols of your heart; make Jesus the Lord of your life.
When a person died in ancient Greece, the deceased was referred to as being “hidden in the earth.” Paul says believers are hidden with Christ. One day we’ll be gloriously with Him in heaven!
In the early church, people removed their old clothes after baptism and put on new clothes to symbolize new life. Paul instructs us (in 3:5-10) to rid ourselves of the “old clothing” sins that we have worn: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil, greed, anger, rage, slander, filthy language, lying.
Imagine a committee of these sins in your heart. They cause nothing but inner turmoil. You turn to Jesus and “say to him, ‘My life isn’t working. Please come in and fire my committee, every last one of them. I hand myself over to you. I am your responsibility. Please run my whole life for me.’ Accepting Jesus is not just adding Jesus. It is also subtracting the idols” (Ray Ortlund, Jr., 2010). Abandon the idols of your heart; make Jesus the Lord of your life.
Scripture Focus
Colossians 3:1-11
Insight
“Just as I am, thou wilt receive,/ Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;/ Because thy promise I believe,/ O Lamb of God, I come.”(Charlotte Elliott, 1835)
Bible In A Year
- 1 Chronicles 6-7
- Proverbs 27
- Revelation 8-10