November 13, 2022
Morning Service

2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

            Our study of Paul’s letter to the Colossian church began by painting a very clear picture of the Divinity of Jesus.  He explained to us that this Jesus whom we have committed to follow is preeminent in our creation, our redemption, and the church; He is Lord of all!  All things were created by Him and for Him (1:16).  Through Him we who were once enemies of God are reconciled back to God through His work on the cross (1:20-21).  He alone is the Head of us, the church, as we are His body (1:24).  The mystery that has been hidden for ages now has been revealed to us which is “Christ in you the hope of glory.” (1:27) Paul’s prayer for us is that we “attain to all riches in the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God.” (2:2) This understanding and knowledge of who Jesus really is has brought us to the point of Paul challenging us to; “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” (2:6) He commanded us to have our understanding evolve into wisdom (which is the act of putting knowledge and understanding into action).  Believing that Jesus is who He said He is and that His work on the cross paid the price our forgiveness making us complete (lacking nothing) in Him (2:10), will be the motivation behind a change in our life.  This states the foundation from which we have brought these 5 “New You” messages.  We are being called to become a “little more like Jesus and a little less like me!”  This all begins with our new perspective that was shared with us in chapter 2.  He begins the statement with the word “IF.”  If we are raised with Christ, committed enough to be buried with Him in baptism then our mind set will change.

 

 Col 3:1-3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.  (2)  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  (3)  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

            IF we are truly raised (reborn) with Christ we will seek to see things with God’s eyes not our own.  We will focus our thoughts, which will be followed by our actions, upon things eternal rather than the temporal.  The spiritual side of our life, which is where our eternal life lies, will become primary in our thoughts.  We realize the reality of our mortality in this life will one day give way to our immortality in the next.  It is said; “it is wise to give up what you cannot keep to attain that which you cannot lose.”  Our lives on this earth need to be steered by our vision that this world is not our home.  This life we are living is not our own.  We have died to ourselves and live for Christ.  We are giving up what we cannot keep to attain that which we cannot lose.  This mindset will guide us to keep our eyes on Jesus, not on our circumstances.  Verse 2 was actually the verse of the day for yesterday in my “You Version” app.  This also was the verse of the day one day this week.

 

Isa 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

            “Perfect peace” is promised to those of us who keep our minds set on God and the things that are above.  It is choice for us to keep our eyes on the One we are following even when times are hard and even when we don’t understand.  “Perfect peace” is given to us as we focus our minds on Jesus.  Today as we finish out the Colossian letter, Paul instructs us that the “New You” must also be on display at work.

 

Col 3:22-25 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.  (23)  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, (24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.  (25)  But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

            Here Paul is actually talking to people who had sold themselves into bondage for a period of time to pay off a debt in which they could not pay.  They would work as a “bondservant” doing whatever they were asked to do, being under total control of their “master.”  I feel like we can very simply apply that same principal to those of us who are employed and view the authority of the company as our “master.”  We, like the bondservant, also choose to work there and thus should show the same attitude as Paul instructs here.  Paul says don’t only work hard and diligently when the boss is watching “eye service” but do it in “sincerity of heart fearing God.”  Notice the mindset here; we are not to work to be seen working, but to work truly seeking to do our job well in reverence to the Lord.  He sums it up best in verse 23; “Whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men.”  Everything we do at work is not done in a manner to simply please the boss, but we are working to please the Lord.  That should change our work ethic knowing that how well you do at your job is in a way an act of worship to our Lord.  Doing our best in anything we are involved with is a way that we can bring glory to our Lord.  It becomes who we are, not what we do.  We find ourselves choosing to do the right things the right way whether anyone is watching or not because God sees us always and it is Him we are trying to please.  Notice there is no footnote that says “if your boss is a nice person and treats you well, then do your best.”  We are called to do our best even in difficult circumstances and even with difficult people.  We are called to be people of integrity-doing it right even when no one will ever know.  The “New You” will become a person of integrity at work and in everything you do as you work “heartily as to the Lord.”  The boss isn’t exempt either.

 

Col 4:1 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

            If you hold a place of authority over others, always do what is “just and fair” knowing your Heavenly Master is watching you.  In a place of leadership, you have a tremendous chance to influence those who are under your authority.  Follow the pattern Jesus set as He was the ultimate “Servant Leader.”  He never asks us to do something that He has not already done Himself or is willing to do with us.  A leader can set in place a culture in which each person can feel appreciated for doing their work well and know they will be held accountable for “slacking” off also.  It should be a goal to create an atmosphere like we have here at church where we deeply care for one another and work together to achieve our goals; better together.  Paul finishes his letter with a flurry of challenges for us to apply to our “New You” way of living.

 

Col 4:2-6 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; (3) meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, (4) that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.  (5)  Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.  (6)  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

            Pray continually and earnestly for the needs you see in your life, in those around you, and within the entire kingdom of God.  Paul asked them to pray for him to have opportunities to “speak the mystery of Christ” to the world.  We likewise should be in prayer about that in our lives and be on the lookout for those opportunities to share the “Good news” of the gospel message and to be His hands and feet making the world around us a better place (being salt/light)  Pray for the Spirit’s guidance to see those in need with His compassion and have the courage to act on the opportunities that we encounter.

            He also instructs us to “walk in wisdom, redeeming the time.”  When our mindset is upon things above, we need to choose to use our time, which is always limited, on the important things rather than on things that do not matter from the eternal perspective.  We all often “make time” for the things we want to do, but when asked to do something for Jesus, we are always too busy.  That is NOT redeeming the time!  Seek first the kingdom of God.

            “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”  If my mind is set on things above, my tongue will speak accordingly and take care of itself.  If not, we all have the tendency to speak before thinking and that can often get us into trouble.  James tells us to “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.”  This is GREAT advice for the “New You!”

            I hope this series based upon this scripture in Colossians has challenged you to look at your life and see if you are truly “setting your mind on things that are above.”  Know and realize that this is a process, a journey, to get to the point of thinking and acting like Jesus.  Don’t ever quit or settle for less than what God is asking you to become.  “Perfect peace” will be attained as we set our hearts and minds upon God and fully trust Him in all our ways.

 

Heavenly Father thank You for speaking to us through Your Word.  May we be able and willing to see ourselves as we are and grant us the courage, strength, and wisdom to change the things that are not pleasing to You.  Truly Lord, mold us and make us “a little more like Jesus and a little less like me!”