10.04.06 thequest UPdate

thequest family,

As we've been studying Colossians, we have run across the Apostle Paul's customary brushstroke. He typically spends the first half of his letters encouraging the saints and re-laying the foundational elements of their faith. In Colossae, that meant centering on the supremacy of Jesus.

In the second half of his letters, Paul's brushstroke goes the way of "practicality." He says in essence, "Here's where the rubber meets the road." As we transition from the first half to the last half, Paul is clear that "spiritual practices and rituals" will not have value in overcoming our sin nature and living holy lives (see Col 2:22-23).

That leaves us with a nagging question..."What will overcome sin in my life?" This is a question I asked yesterday and today. Paul answers it by going back to the truth and power of Jesus.

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ,

keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Keep thinking about things above,
not things on the earth,

for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ (who is your life) appears,

then you too will be revealed in glory with him.

Colossians 3:1-4 NET
He starts to answer our question by coming back to the resurrection power of Jesus. There are many days when I think I will never overcome my fleshly desires! I forget--that as a person who has Jesus as Lord of my life--I was killed and I have been resurrected with Jesus. That power to raise from the dead has been leveraged in my life. I have been raised, just like Jesus was!

Paul continues to answer the question by encouraging us to consider what we are looking at, striving for and thinking about. He challenges us to keep seeking and thinking on things above. When we look at Jesus (remember He's alive and up there at the right hand of the Father), we get our eyes off ourselves and the mess around us. We get a focus back on the things that matter.

Paul goes out of sequence here a bit, but still reminds us that we have died to our way of doing things (that's what repentance and following Jesus is all about). Remember you have to die before you can come back to life (ie., resurrection) Although we have died, it doesn't mean we are adrift as a carcass on the water. Jesus takes us and HIDES us with HIM. The Father sees me through Jesus. I am hidden with Jesus. He conceals my sin and my unworthiness so that I can have a relationship with God at all! He hid all of that through His blood (you must see Col 2:13-14)!

Beyond that there is a massive trade that goes on. Since we have died, where did our life come from? This passage tells us clearly that Jesus is our life. The exchange is complete. We have a new life, it is Jesus Himself.

One more thing Paul wants us to know in this sequence: We died, we are hidden in Jesus and we have a future! That future is "hidden" in Jesus too. Verse four tells us that when Jesus appears again in glory as King of Kings, we will appear with Him as well. Our great cloak Jesus will cause us to appear with Him in glory. Wow!

This past stuff (the dying and hiding in Him) & the future stuff (appearing with Jesus in glory) all has a bearing on the present. It points to the truth that Jesus is our life. He is where we hide and overcome the sin nature that is so powerful within us. His resurrection power and the forgiveness purchased through His own blood is what gives us the ability to walk forward overcoming sin and living holy lives.

I trust you will seek and think about the One above...and follow Him into overcoming sin and living a holy life.

Press On,

Mike


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