DAILY DEATH
Colossians 3:5
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Personal Challenge
In today's world, we look at a verse like this and tell ourselves that there is no way that we do anything like these grievous and gross sins. But is this really true? It is much easier to sin in these areas than it ever has been. It is nearly impossible to watch a movie or a television show, read a magazine, or even listen to music on the radio without being presented with an image that leads our minds to think about someone presented to us in a way that is sinful. We do not have to physically perform the act of fornication, but if we think it in our head, then Jesus said it is the same as doing it. What about uncleanness? What kind of words comes out of our mouths? Do we tell or laugh at dirty jokes? Do we enjoy putting others down or gossiping about them? Do we ever feel like chasing that person down that just cut us off and give them what they deserve? Do we desire what we do not have or spend our entire effort grasping more in life than we need? These are the members of our lives that we are to put to death daily. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
LOOK TO HIGHER THINGS
Colossians 3:1-2
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Personal Challenge
It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day events and demands of everyday life that we become used to focusing on this life only. Paul reminds us that if we have been baptized into Christ, then we should be aggressively seeking those things of Christ, His heavenly kingdom and the promises that He has made to us. As we do this the things of this earth began to wave in both comparison to the things of heaven and in the amount of control that they have over us. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!
WALK IN HIM
Colossians 2:6-7
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Personal Challenge
The Scriptures make it clear in so many different verses, that our salvation in Christ is not a single point in time event in our lives. We are not saved by saying some special prayer and then being done with it. Salvation is the process of Jesus working in our lives, our minds, hearts, and souls, day after day, moment after moment, until that blessed day that we leave this temporal body and join Him in His kingdom. This ongoing salvation process also requires that we are active contributors to it. Here we are admonished to walk in Christ, not just stand still, but to move forward in our relationship with Him. We are to be building up our lives in Him by prayer, reading of the Scriptures, participating in the liturgy and sacraments, and doing good works for Him. We must be actively building and establishing our faith in Him. The rest of our temporal life is to be walking in Him. Glory be to God!
PRAYING FOR US
Colossians 1:9-12
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Encouraging Words
In the Eastern Orthodox church, we the saints that have gone before us as being in the presence of our Lord and Savior. We put our hope in Christ that when we repose that too will be in His glorious presence. Part of this belief and hope is that these saints are praying and petitioning for us on an ongoing basis. This belief makes Pauls' prayer for the Colossians so much more powerful. Just as he never ceased to pray for the Christians of his day, we can believe that Paul has continued his prayer vigil for the Christians ever since. We are not alone on our journey through life. We have each other in the church and those who have gone before us paying for us. Glory be to God!
NEED OR WANT
Philippians 4:19
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Encouraging Words
Paul sends his letter to the people of Philippi with this admonition, that God will supply their every need. Then we might read this today and ask why we don't have everything that we want and proclaim that God is reneging on this promise. In our modern, instant gratification, fast food culture, we have confused the concepts of "need" versus "want". We often believe that if we want something, then we need it. God knows best what we need and He will supply for that need. We must accept that and be appreciative for His love and grace. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!
Saint of the Week
St. Gregory of Nyssa
TO BE CONTENT
Philippians 4:11-13
Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Personal Challenge
True personal contentment is not something that this temporal world can give us. It can only be given to us by our loving God. The results, or better yet, the manifestation, of this Godly contentment in our lives are evident in how we deal with the things and events of this world. Whether we are abounding and being celebrated and recognized in our regular, ongoing daily activities or being rejected, by those around us, are we content. If our bellies are full or empty, are we content? Are things going exactly the way that we want than to or are we suffering day-by-day, and are we content in either situation? True godly contentment, like true godly joy, is not based on circumstances. It is based on our Source of contentment, Jesus Christ, through Whom we can do all things because He strengthens us. Glory be to God!
