- 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. Colossians 3:7-8 – In our chapter Paul has multiple lists being given to us, and much of those lists outline the sinful things that were in our life before Jesus saved us. Handling sex in ways that God did not design, entertaining evil desires, speaking badly about other people: all such things Paul wanted his listeners to remember were parts of their lives that once were alive and active in their story…but now should be dead. Once they walked and lived with these things in their life, but now they needed to be put away. In an earlier verse he takes it to the next step and says such things need to be put to death. Why such intense language from Paul over these things? Because it’s things such as in these lists that caused us to be separated from God which led to Jesus dying on the cross for us. These things do not foster intimacy with God, but intimacy with the enemy. What then are parts of your old, pre-Jesus life that you haven’t put away yet? What mindsets, what habits, or what ways of speaking that you know are not pleasing to God yet haven’t been put off? The call is to a faithful life following the ways of Jesus, yet such sinful things are a roadblock to a healthy pursuit of Jesus. Identify what these things may be in your life and ask the Lord to reveal the ones you aren’t even aware of yet. We’ve been called to live holy as God is holy, such a life though takes a stepping away from the unholy parts of our life that Jesus died for. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3422
- Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 – As a Christian, what this passage talks about is of the utmost importance. Realize that what you do has a higher reason than just earthly accomplishment and a paycheck. You are serving God each day and have the opportunity to share His love each day while you do “whatever you do.” So shift your mind away from the course that the world has when it comes to work and careers. Wherever you are at job, school, family wise, give it your all because you have a new reason to pour everything you got out. Not for earthly acknowledgement, not a bonus, but because you are serving God with whatever you do. Realize you can worship God by doing your best at where God has placed you in this season of your life. So whatever you do, whether this season of life seems pointless, whether it’s simple, whether or not you think anyone is going to notice, do you best for God. Let God be the one you seek acknowledgment from and blessing from. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 549
- Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:2-5 – At camp this past week, one nugget I learned was what the word “decide” truly means when broken down to its origin. It means to kill. To make a choice and to eliminate all the others. Not make a choice and still be reaching for and thinking about the other decisions. A complete murder of the other options and settling fully in the choice you have made. As Christ followers, we have decided to follow Jesus. Which means all other choices of what we could follow needs to be eliminated. Now, that doesn’t mean we need to go around killing everything, but like our passage speaks on, anything that is not of God in our story needs to be put to death and left out of our life. All our lustful thoughts, the anger-filled behaviors, the sinful ways we speak and live, all need to be put to death. We have decided to follow Jesus which means the sin in our story needs an execution. I know even for my own self I needed to take in this message this morning, so I hope this message can settle within your story to. God has saved us and brought us close to Himself. Let’s put away the sinful things in our story, deciding to follow Jesus and only Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2408
Daily DEVO 