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Tag: March 12

  • Dressing for Spiritual Success!

    Colossians 3:12 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,”
    Colossians 3, for me, is at the top of the list for how to live the Christian life. Along with Romans 12, Colossians 3 gets straight to the point of what is not to be a part of our lives and what actions are part of our lives. As the Apostle Paul calls for us to have our minds set on things above and to think like heaven thinks (Col. 3:1-4 ) he instructs the believer in Colossians 3:5-14 to take three actions. The believer is to 1. PUT TO DEATH 2. PUT OFF and 3. PUT ON. Notice Colossians 3:5-14.

    Colossian 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
    8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
    12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

    To teach this I have asked a person to picture having on a filthy shirt that it is so filthy it has to be taken off and thrown away. Based on Col. 3:5-7 there are things that we put to death. They are no longer something we do. Then there is the undershirt that is also stained. It must be put off as well. Then one puts on a clean new shirt.

    What does Paul want the believers to PUT ON? We are to put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

    Where are you in the process? Have you put to death those things that DO NOT BELONG in your new life? Have you PUT OFF actions that are unbecoming to a believer? Are you putting on the virtues of the Christian life?

    Continue Strong putting on (living out) the Christian virtues,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Dogged Determination to Become More for Jesus

    Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”

    As the Apostle Paul defines his present reality of not being at the level he desires, he gives a very powerful resolve that starts with a word we associate with contrast, saying, “but…”  This word but is more than a contrast here as Paul is using this word to convey commitment.  

    While he defines what he is NOT, he makes it clear what he is.  

    And what he is pressing forward.  He is pursuing.   His dissatisfaction with the present level has brought about a determination, a dogged determination, to be more like Christ and do more for Christ. 

    His determination will be followed up with discipline as he writes in Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  

    Did you catch the discipline?  He said one thing I do!  He is fully devoted to being all he can be and do for Christ.  

    Are you in pursuit of becoming all you can be for Jesus?  If your answer is yes then you are going to have moments of dissatisfaction that turn into new determination followed by a new discipline to press on!

    Define your spiritual life reality and determine to improve.  Never ever be satisfied.  

    A March to Remember

    For March 12, let us remember Hebrews 9:12.  Hebrews 9:12 says, “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”

    The sacrifice of Christ was once and for all.  When He said it was finished it was finished.  In an out-of-this-world scene, Christ entered the Most Holy Place of heaven and presented His blood that was accepted by the Father and now an eternal redemption is offered to us.  What a Savior! 

    On March 12 we encourage you to read Matthew 12 and John 12 to recall our Lord’s teaching and to read of the extravagant love of Mary of Bethany.  You can find the Bible reading plan on the Date the Word app.

    Continue Strong this March Remembering our Savior,
    And remember to DATE the Word