Set Your Course

OPENING PRAYER:

Gracious God, sometimes I am weary of fighting my way through another day. Give me strength to live faithfully today.

READ: COLOSSIANS 3:1-4

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Footnotes

[a] Colossians 3:4 Some manuscripts our

COLOSSIANS 3:1-4

REFLECT:

Modern aircraft rely on an autopilot to fly safely to their destination. If it fails, the human one must take over. What navigation settings are determining your speed and altitude today? Are they the right ones?

These four verses summarize Paul’s entire letter. Read them slowly once more. If your faith is in the risen Christ everything about you and your life has been transformed beyond imagining. Everything.

Paul uses strong language: ‘For you died’ (v 3). The old you is no more. You are a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17)! Everything needed has been done. There is nothing lacking. The challenge now is to live in the light and freedom of that new reality. Two things must change: our heart and our mind. Our heart draws us to what we value most. That’s where we store our treasure. Our mind enables us to make sense of the world and drives how we think and act. It needs to be transformed (Romans 12:2).

Jesus talked about putting new wine into new wineskins (Mark 2:22). That’s because the container needs to match the contents. We need to reprogram our autopilot to a new destination: things above. In tomorrow’s reading Paul will start to unpack what that looks like in real life.

APPLY:

There is so much to be thankful for in this passage. Your life is now ‘hidden with Christ in God’ (v 3). Is there anything you need to bring out of hiding today that will show the world the new creation you already are?

CLOSING PRAYER:

Dear Lord, in this Christmas season, my soul takes rest in you. It is enough that you are for me, with me, and within me.

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