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 Colossians 3 - Thanksgiving

        It’s amazing what takes our time.  Especially our mind time.  Each human being has desires - things they think about in this life on earth.  We look for angles, hacks, and secrets of success.  We want to understand the way to do it like the greatest of all time.  Moms want to hear how other moms are approaching parenting from the moms who seem to have it all together.  Students want As.  Often we want the hack that gets us the easiest way possible.  

        Some senior citizens even are focused on odd things.  I’ve met Christians in their 80s who are pining, daily, to win the lottery.  I kid you not - isn’t life expectancy in America something like 76?

        But that’s not what we hear about the new life in Christ in this passage.  Whether you are a 25-year-old thinking of ways to launch your career, or a 60-year-old young grandma thinking of ways to help your daughter look after the grandkids, the Bible makes clear who we are in Christ, what our new life should be characterized by, and what we should think about.

        This is the secret to life: Christ lives in Christians.  In this new life as a child of God, a Rescued servant of Jesus, Christ is all that matters.  

        We must have the right attitude.  The proper humble perspective on life if you will.  The realities of heaven ought to be our focus.  We are to think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.  

        This life on earth is not our real life as we have a new life in Christ (3:3).  You see, our real life is hidden with Christ in God.  Christ is all that matters to us now.  I know, sounds trite - and doesn’t sound like it will help with the bills, or the cancer.  But it does.  God is our life.  He is our everything.  Jesus Christ, who rescued us from this evil world lives in all believers.

        God is far greater than any self-help book, the lottery, good grades, a profession, travel, money, stocks, fame, good skin, a nice Toyota truck, etc.

        I know you know this is true, for you’ve tasted the truth, in Jesus Christ.  In Jesus lies hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

        Be a treasure miner, a gold digger.  Dig for the precious understandings that only the Messiah can give you.

        You are not of this world.  Your new life, your real life is hidden with Christ in God.  Be patient  Focus on the reality of the secret of the new life - and live this new life with vigour for Jesus Christ.

        I know.  Sounds easy.  Okay, great.  If all this is true then why is it so hard?

        When we read verses 12-15 about living the Christian way in Christ you’d think it would be dead easy.  It’s not.  It’s not because of the strength of our sinful nature.  I suggest reading this passage in tandem with James chapter four.  We can’t live out these instructions for Christian living unless we confess our sins and understand what our Saviour has done for us, his humble servants.

        I like the brutal honesty of the Book of James.  Jesus is like that, honest.  It is how we should be.  “Hi, my name is David, a sinner, saved only by the mercy and grace of God.”  Mucho gusto.

        God knows us for what we are.  And He still loves us.  And God is pleased by what we do.  Not by what we say or what we acquire in this short life.

        Let’s ask good questions today.  How can I help you today?  What can I do to serve with love?  Who can I selflessly help today as God has helped me?

        I know very well how appealing the world is.  Titles.  Degrees.  Wealth. Position.  Prestige.  Pleasures.  Worldliness.  We cloak a lot of religiosity in the pursuit of worldliness.  The problem is, that makes us enemies of God (James 4).

        We need, daily that is, a Jesus mindset.  A mindset of thankfulness and service.

        Lord God, please put before us a straight road and help us to stay on it.  A road marked with service, purity, integrity, care for the poor, sacrifice, generosity, and common sense.  A road to righteousness, unfailing love, life, and honor.  A road where even if we walk alone we walk in humble confidence with our advocate and our protector.  Lord Jesus!  Thank you, Jesus.  Amen.


Happy Thanksgiving - Get that Turkey ready!


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