Verse: Colossians 3:5-10
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Devotion
That’s quite a list. It’s an interesting mix of some more outward behaviors, and some more internal sins. Greed being equated with idolatry stuck out to me on my first read through. Also “do not lie to each other”. The list is split into two. The first half seems to me to be the things that the Colossians have already put behind them. And now Paul is adding to the list, telling them that there is more work to be done. And that’s often the way the Lord works with us. He doesn’t throw the whole laundry list at us, and expect us to get to work. He leads us one step at a time, allowing us to form new habits and build on a foundation slowly.
But there is always more growing to do, as we are far from perfect. It’s my tendency to breeze through lists like these, feeling like they are describing someone else. Someone who maybe just doesn’t have things as together as I. But who am I kidding? If I honestly look at myself, there are plenty of things that are highlighted for me. And I want to be aware of them. And to do something about it. Maybe that’s what Paul means by our new selves being renewed in knowledge. And that is a good thing.
Prayer
Jesus, make me aware of the things you want me to work on. I want to be more like you.
Author: Emily Costa
Recent Comments