Reading the following Scripture I have to strongly consider if I do what
I am supposed to do even half of the time.
My life still seems to be centred on the things I want/ want to do/
have/ don’t have, etc. Scriptures like
these convict me and make me think- are we (as Christians) truly living how
Jesus did, or how He wants us to? How
often do we justify our lack of ‘going all the way’ to do what He says by
thinking He didn’t mean for us to?
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those
things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the
right hand of God. Be mindful of things above, not on things on the earth. For
you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. When Christ our
Life is revealed, then you also will be
revealed with Him in glory.
Therefore put to death your members which are on the
earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness (which
is idolatry), Cl. 3:1-5
Obviously, if
we are born again, we were raised with Christ so we should be seeking/ mindful
of those things which are above and not earthy things. How much of my time
do I do this? In my estimation- not
enough. Paul continues to write about
some of these earthly things of which I will expound using Thayer’s dictionary:
fornication- any sex outside of marriage between one man
and one woman.
Personally I would
include pornography, ungodly deviancy in or out of marriage, sexually explicit
material including many romance novels and such.
uncleanness- physically or morally impure, lustful (desire
for gratification), reckless living without thought for the consequences.
passion- good or bad, in NT usually depraved, vile
passions.
evil desire- bad/ injurious, destructive desires,
cravings, lusts, desire for what is forbidden
covetousness (which is idolatry)- greedy desire to have
more, desire of gaining or possessing, unable of being satisfied
These are what we are to put to death- dead- unable to act
upon due to our deadness…
Do I cheer
for the adulterous couple who finally gets together in the movie because the
one’s spouse is ‘bad’? Do I desire to
gratify myself in wants when many are doing without? Do I care about others lives or just about my
own desires and needs? Is life more
about my wants or what God wants? Do I
always want more, better, newer, more stylish… more ‘treasures’ or do I want to
give more, better, more often, higher quality…?
How much of my time do I devote to things above as opposed to things on
earth? A young man who thought he was
doing alright, following enough of the law asked about gaining eternal life
(Mr. 10:17).
Then Jesus, beholding him, loved him and said to him,
One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever*
you have and give it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. And
come, take up the cross and follow Me. And he was sad at that saying and went
away grieved, for he had great possessions. Mr. 10:21,22 * as great as, how much
Would we, could we give it all?