Daily Devotional
Word of the Day
Is Pleasing Him Supreme?
Pastor Scott
Friday, May 28, 2004
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"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God."
(Colossians 3:1)
"If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on [the] things of the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life..." (Col. 3:1-4). Is He your life, or is He a hobby? Is He one of many gods? None of us would say that, but is pleasing Him supreme? Is His lordship, His glory, His honor, totally distinct and holy to you? Holy means distinct. He's not on the top of the list; He's the only One on the list. It's a whole separate list. There's the glory of God, and then there's everything else. That's what it means to serve a holy (unique, separate) God. Nothing else can even be compared to Him. The value of God's Word and wisdom is more precious than gold and rubies. God's Word is not even on the same list as gold and rubies.
"When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:4). The spirit is willing; the flesh is weak. "Mortify therefore your members [your flesh; put it to death; put it under]; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection[s], evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience... [Now,] put [away] these [things]; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. [Stop lying to one another, and stop lying to yourself, and] put off the old man with his deeds; [and] put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him" (3:5-6, 8-10).
In this admonition that Paul gives in the Epistle to the Colossians, where are you? Are you aware of this warfare? Are you aware of what it takes to prepare, to put on the new man, which after God is created for His purposes and glory, for the image of Christ? Are you putting off the old? What decisions do you make to put it off? Sin is in our members. We're all alike. Stop lying one to another. We're all alike. We're all in the same boat. We all are driven by the same lust. We all have the same natural appetites. We need help. We've got to help one another if we're going to overcome in this generation. Surround yourself by the right people. Be followers of those who through faith and patience are inheriting the promises of God. Find somebody to follow into heaven, or you will hear these words, "Sleep on."