“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.
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit,.. according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For… you have been filled in him… putting off the body of the flesh,.. 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. You who were dead in your trespasses.., God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us.., nailing it to the cross…
“Since 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…
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry… In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that 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.” Colossians 2:6-14; 3:1-3,5,7-10
Paul reminds the Colossians that their gift of salvation was only the entry to life in Christ. As they have been made new and alive with Him, filled with and hidden in Him, since they were raised with Him, they were responsible to think and behave differently. All that had been accomplished spiritually must now be implemented and expressed practically. To walk and grow in Christ required ongoing vigilance against filthy habits of the world and upward toward godly thinking and doing.
The upward call of Christ is not an easy climb. Pauls letter intended to encourage the early churches upbuild and fortify the Church today. Christians are cloaked in many an ‘as’ and ‘since,’ and it takes faith and practice to take hold of new realities.
Regrets pepper our thoughts, and we must remember Christ’s forgiveness. Weakness riddles our resolve, and we must put away doubt. The philosophies of the world stream ubiquitously, and we must tune in to the Word and renew our minds. The upward climb itself is littered with distraction and temptations to apathy or sloth or surrender, so we must press on and keep faith muscles supple and strong. (Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 3:12-16)
What thinking or affection needs realignment? What habits need be ruthlessly put off? What truths of Christ’s victory over sin and its fallout need I apply?
The Lord does not leave us to grow alone, but provides His word, His Spirit, and His people to show the way and come alongside. How are we taking advantage of in-person worship, teaching, encouragement, and serving at church? Beside whom do we plod and strain forward? What steps would God have us take to better establish ourselves, or others, today? (Psalm 119:105; Hebrews 10:24-25)
Lord, help me faithfully apply what You have victoriously done, to Your glory.
