Accountability - Chapter Three

Hello Everyone! 

I know it has been forever and a day since I last posted.  If you recall with my previous entry, I had this gut wrenching realization that memorizing and blogging about Colossians was just about to do me in.  While I dropped the regular blogging, I am still holding to the memorization component.  I am happy to declare that I am on target to finish memorizing Colossians by the end the year.  Yeah me!

Chapter three has been all about application.  After carefully laying out all that God has done for us in Christ, Paul goes deep and gives us a picture of what this new life in Christ should look like. As I examined my walk alongside of this beautiful description, one word comes to mind. 

FAIL.

Paul penning the first two chapters of this letter before the application portion is a relief for me.  If you recall, those chapters unfolded for us profound truths that should energize us in our faith. 

- We learned that through the cross we have been rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into Christ’s kingdom. 

- We learned that God forgave all our sins, canceled the debt that was owed and rendered our enemy impotent. 

- We were warned about deceptions that herald the concept of Jesus plus something is the answer.  Yet we reveled in the knowledge that tells us contrarily that Jesus plus nothing is the truth we need to hold dear. 

- We became acquainted with the concept of fullness in Christ and the certainty of our old sinful nature having been taken away.

- We were soaked with the supremacy of Christ midway through chapter one and we learned of the gorgeous truth of the Gospel and the reconciliation to God that it brings.

- We grappled the incomprehensible knowledge that we were once dead but now we are alive and it was God alone who did this. Dead people can’t make themselves alive.  It was through His grace. 

Why?  Why did God do all this?  We know that we couldn’t do it for ourselves.  But why?  In a nutshell, God desires to be with us.  It is hard to imagine but He wants us.  He loves us.  He wants us to abide with Him.  In order for that to happen, He needed to make a way.  Christianity is the only faith where God comes down to man. 

I know why I fail.  I fail because I attempt to follow the commands in chapter three before I have soaked in the truths of chapters one and two. When I am saturated with those truths then chapter three just happens on its own.  I can not live a fully alive Christ-like life unless I know how much God loves me and how he has proven that love by restoring something I could never have done on my own.  He sent His son so that He could have me. 

With that, a new word comes to mind.

Speechless.

Here is my memorization accountability for Chapter three.   I miss writing.  Perhaps God will make a way.  Shalom friends. 

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set you heart on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father (God).  Set your mind on things above and not on earthly things.  For you have died and your life is now hidden in Christ with God.  And when Christ, who is your life, appears then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature.  Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed which is idolatry.  Because of these the wrath of God is coming.  You used to walk in these ways in the life you once lived.  But Now you must rid yourselves of such things as these anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips.  Do not lie to one each another since you have died taken off to your old self with its practices on put on your new self which is being renewed in the knowledge in the image of the its Creator.  Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free.  But Christ is all and in all. 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, patience and gentleness.  Bear with one each another and forgive whatever grievances you have against each other one another.  Forgive as Christ the Lord has forgiven forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love that binds them all together in perfect unity. 

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you speak teach and admonish one another with all wisdom as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  Whatever you do in word or deed do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

Wives submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Children obey you parents in everything for this pleases the Lord.

Fathers, do not embitter your children or they will become discouraged.

Slaves, obey you masters in everything.  And do it Not only when their eye is on you to win their favor but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.  Whatever you do, work at with all your heart it as if working for the Lord and not for men, for since you know that you have anwill receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for that his wrong and there is no partiality favoritism.